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 audience appeal. Speaking to Radio Tu, and 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, seeking to attract a diverse audience, including those outside the typical superhero film demographic.

"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 even your grandmother to the theaters." He further elaborated, revealing insights from private conversations suggesting a significant portion of the population, particularly women, lacked interest in the Flash character. This, he noted, created significant headwinds for the film.

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Muschietti's acknowledgement of "other reasons" for the film's underperformance likely includes negative critical reception, controversy surrounding its CGI, particularly the recreation of deceased actors, and its release within a now-dismantled film universe.

Despite The Flash's commercial struggles, DC Studios has retained Muschietti to direct The Brave and the Bold, the inaugural Batman film within James Gunn and Peter Safran's revamped DC Universe.