The Flash Director Andy Muschietti Says It Failed Because 'A Lot of People Just Don’t Care About the Flash as a Character'

Director Andy Muschietti attributes the box office failure of his DC Extended Universe film, "The Flash," to a lack of broad appeal. In an interview with Radio Tu, as reported by Variety, Muschietti stated the film didn't sufficiently engage "the four quadrants" – a term referring to the key demographic groups (males under 25, males over 25, females under 25, and females over 25) – to justify its $200 million budget. He explained that Warner Bros. aims for widespread appeal, targeting even a broad audience.

"The Flash failed, among other reasons, because it didn't appeal to all four quadrants," Muschietti said. "When you spend $200 million, they want to bring your grandmother to the theater." He further elaborated that, based on his observations, many people, particularly women, simply lacked interest in the Flash character. This, he noted, presented a significant headwind for the film.

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Muschietti acknowledged other contributing factors to the film's underperformance, including negative critical reception, controversy surrounding its CGI, particularly the recreation of deceased actors, and its release within a collapsing film universe.

Despite "The Flash's" commercial struggles, Muschietti remains a part of DC's plans, slated to direct "The Brave and the Bold," the inaugural Batman film in James Gunn and Peter Safran's revamped DC Universe.