Why didn't this fantasy blockbuster hit $200 million at the domestic box office?

[George.J]

I just saw the final domestic total for that big fantasy movie from last year, and I was genuinely surprised it didn’t clear $200 million. Given the marketing blitz and the established fanbase, I expected it to leg out much stronger. It makes me wonder if the theatrical window is just too short now for certain genres to really build that necessary word-of-mouth.

[HarperCH]

I watched it opening weekend and thought the marketing would push it over 200. It didn’t. The first two weeks were loud, then the momentum dropped fast. It makes me wonder if the theatrical window is becoming a limiter for some fantasy films, not just a timing issue. Maybe word of mouth is there but it’s not turning into repeat theater visits.

[Eleanor.T]

I actually logged the declines week to week and the drop after day 3 was steeper than similar films. The buzz online stayed but the crowd in seats didn’t translate, at least for a sustained run. It felt like the known fans showed up, others warmed to it later on home viewing.

[LukeJJ]

A friend and I debated whether the banner scenes or the cast stuck in memory after the credits. We skipped a second screening, figuring we’d wait for streaming. The domestic total was still a topic at the gym, with lots of chatter but not many people leaving the theater happy or with merch in hand.

[GaryL]

Is the real issue the window or something else about the movie itself?