Andy Muschietti, the director behind the DC Extended Universe's "The Flash," has openly discussed the film's disappointing box office performance. In an interview with Radio Tu, translated by Variety, Muschietti attributed the film's failure to its inability to captivate "the four quadrants" of moviegoers—a term used in the industry to describe a film's appeal to all demographics. He stated, "The Flash failed, among all the other reasons, because it wasn’t a movie that appealed to all four quadrants. It failed at that." He emphasized the high stakes involved, noting that with a $200 million budget, Warner Bros. expected the film to draw in a broad audience, including even the least likely viewers, like "your grandmother."
Muschietti further elaborated on the lack of interest in the Flash as a character, particularly among female audiences. He mentioned, "I’ve found in private conversations that a lot of people just don’t care about the Flash as a character. Particularly the two female quadrants. All of that is just the wind going against the film I’ve learned." The four quadrants, as defined by Hollywood, include males under 25, males over 25, females under 25, and females over 25.
In addition to the lack of broad appeal, Muschietti's reference to "all the other reasons" for the film's failure likely encompasses its negative critical reception, the controversy surrounding its heavy use of CGI, including the recreation of deceased actors without family consent, and its timing at the end of a now-defunct film universe.
Despite the setback with "The Flash," DC Studios appears to maintain confidence in Muschietti. He is reportedly set to helm "The Brave and the Bold," the inaugural Batman film in the new DC Universe spearheaded by James Gunn and Peter Safran.
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