Harley Quinn’s first solo film isn’t flying quite as high as the studio expected, despite rave reviews, but Warner Bros. says it thinks a name change can put a bandage on the wound, according to Entertainment Weekly (EW).
Check out the marquee at AMC, Regal, or Cinemark, and you’ll see the name of the film has been changed from Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) to Harley Quinn: Birds of Prey. Warner Bros. says it believes this switch will let fans know the film focuses on the DC madwoman.
Whatever it’s called, Birds of Prey opened to $33 million domestically in its first weekend in the box office — coming in below the estimated $50 million. Warner Bros. says it believes the problem is in the marketing (and not the terrible ads that highlight one Harley Quinn’s atrocious New York accent).
It hasn’t admitted the less-than-impressive box office numbers were to blame for the change, but doing so after the release is rare.
Photo: Warner Bros.