The Flash is a 2023 American superhero movie inspired by the DC Comics character Barry Allen, also known as The Flash. Directed by Andy Muschietti, the screenplay was crafted by Christina Hodson, with a story developed by John Francis Daley, Jonathan Goldstein, and Joby Harold. This film marks the 13th installment in the DC Extended Universe (DCEU). The Flash also failed to perform well at the Box Office, earning $271.4 million globally against a budget estimated $220 million.
The film was produced by Barbara Muschietti and Michael Disco for DC Films and Warner Bros. Pictures. The journey to create a Flash film began in the late 1980s, with various versions being proposed until 2014, when it was reimagined for the DCEU and Ezra Miller was cast.
Over the years, several writers and directors were attached to the project, including Seth Grahame-Smith, Rick Famuyiwa, Daley, and Goldstein, all of whom left due to creative disagreements with the studios. Muschietti and Hodson joined the project in July 2019, with pre-production kicking off in January 2020.
Drawing inspiration from the 2011 comic book arc Flashpoint, the film delves into the multiverse and showcases other DC characters, including Calle’s Supergirl and various incarnations of Batman, particularly Keaton’s versions from Batman (1989) and Batman Returns (1992), with additional characters digitally inserted.
Filming took place from April to October 2021 at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden and various locations across the United Kingdom. The film’s conclusion underwent several revisions during post-production due to shifts in DC’s broader strategy under different studio leadership.
The Flash had it’s premiere at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, Los Angeles, on June 12, 2023, and was released in the United States on June 16, after facing multiple delays attributed to changes in directors and the COVID-19 pandemic. Critics offered mixed reviews, commending the film’s humor, action sequences, and overall entertainment value.
Factors contributing to its poor box office performance included Miller’s legal issues and controversies, the franchise’s upcoming reboot in the DC Universe (DCU), audience fatigue with superhero films, and the film’s mixed reception and marketing tactics.
