Early reviews of Sony Pictures’ newest Marvel movie, Morbius (2022), were utterly dismal — the post-credits scenes were particularly confusing to fans — and, now, the film’s box office debut is equally unfortunate.
Related: New Marvel Star Accused of Cultural Appropriation, Fans Plan ‘Shang-Chi’ Boycott
The Hollywood Reporter shared details about the vampire flick’s Thursday, April 1, 2022 theatrical premiere:
…[Morbius brought in] $5.7 million in Thursday previews at the domestic box office.
The Sony pic could open anywhere from $33 million to $40 million-plus for the weekend. The studio is being uber-cautious and stressing the $33 million estimate. Insiders at Sony note that Morbius isn’t a traditional superhero pic, but more of a genre film based on one of the many Marvel characters Sony holds the rights to.
Related:Â Marvel Pres. Kevin Feige Reportedly Livid, “Embarrassed” About ‘Black Widow’
THR went on to note:
Morbius received poor reviews, holding just a 15 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes from critics. It held previews beginning at 4 p.m. local time in 3,583 locations.
Related:Â ‘Black Widow’ Nose Dives With Most “Stunning Crash” in MCU History
Another report noted that this is the worst Marvel opening since 20th Century Studios’ The New Mutants hit theaters at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. That much-maligned project only brought in $750,000 at its opening.
Below, you can find Thursday night preview numbers from all of Marvel Studios’ and Sony Pictures’ releases since The New Mutants:
- Black Widow (2021): $13.2 million
- Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021): $8.8 million
- Venom: Let There Be Carnage (2021): $11.6 million
- Eternals (2021): $9.5 million
- Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021): $50 million
Related:Â Tom Hardy “Would Do Anything” to Bring Venom to the MCU
The MCU’s final Infinity Saga films, Avengers: Infinity War (2018) and Avengers: Endgame (2019), opened at $39 million and a record-breaking $60 million, respectively.
Related:Â Zendaya Ditches Tom Holland for ‘Spider-Man’ Andrew Garfield
The official description of Morbius reads:
One of the most compelling and conflicted characters in Sony Pictures Universe of Marvel Characters comes to the big screen as Oscar® winner Jared Leto transforms into the enigmatic antihero Michael Morbius. Dangerously ill with a rare blood disorder and determined to save others suffering his same fate, Dr. Morbius attempts a desperate gamble. While at first it seems to be a radical success, a darkness inside him is unleashed. Will good override evil – or will Morbius succumb to his mysterious new urges?
Do you plan to see Morbius?