‘The Flash’ Director Andy Muschietti On Why He Thinks the Movie Failed

Andy Muschietti recently shared his thoughts on why The Flash struggled at the box office. Despite having a well-known character and a $200 million budget, the movie failed to connect with audiences, grossing only $271.4 million worldwide.

While many pointed to production delays, legal issues surrounding lead actor Ezra Miller, and criticism of the film’s writing and visual effects, Muschietti offered another reason during an interview with Radio TU.

He explained, “The Flash failed, beyond all the other reasons (Ezra Miller, superhero fatigue), because it wasn’t a movie that appealed to all four quadrants. It failed in that regard. When you spend $200 million making a movie, Warner wants to bring even your grandmother to the theaters. And I discovered in private conversations that many people simply don’t care about Flash as a character—particularly the two female quadrants. All of this is headwind working against the film, as I’ve learned.”

This remark sparked heated discussions online. Many critics rejected the claim, arguing that the character had previously succeeded in other formats. The CW’s The Flash series, which ran for nine seasons, was a hit with younger audiences, including women, and had strong international appeal through platforms like Netflix.

Fans also highlighted Marvel’s Quicksilver, whose popularity in the X-Men films demonstrated that speedster characters can shine on the big screen.

Despite these defenses, Muschietti’s comments added fuel to an ongoing debate about the state of DC’s film universe. Some fans questioned whether The Flash’s struggles were more about external factors, like the pandemic’s impact on production, Warner Bros.’ internal instability, or even superhero fatigue. Others focused on the widely criticized visual effects and lackluster story as key reasons for the film’s failure.

The fallout from the movie has left The Flash’s future in the new DC Universe uncertain. James Gunn, head of DC Studios, hasn’t announced any plans for the character in upcoming projects. Meanwhile, Muschietti is set to return with a new project, IT: Welcome to Derry, later this year, and has also been tapped to direct the next Batman film, The Brave and the Bold.

What do you think? Was the failure of The Flash due to the reasons Muschietti shared, or were other factors to blame? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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