The Flash Filmmaker Andy Muschietti Gives a Deep Reflection on the Movie’s Divisive Reception

It’s no secret that 2023’s “The Flash” was a spectacular box office face-plant. The film, burdened by a budget north of $200 million, only managed to gross about $271 million worldwide. When you factor in marketing costs, that’s not just a flop; it’s a crater. For a movie hyped as one of the greatest superhero films ever made, the result was a brutal reality check.

Andy Muschietti Reflects on Response to “The Flash”

Now, director Andy Muschietti is weighing in on why he thinks his ambitious project crashed and burned, and his take is… well, it’s undoubtedly a take. According to a recent interview with The Playlist, Muschietti believes a significant portion of the negativity came from people who never even watched the movie.

He said on The Playlist, “A lot of people did not see it,” he said. “But you know how things are these days — people don’t see things, but they like to talk s*** about it, and they like to jump on bandwagons.” Ah, the classic “you just didn’t get it” defense, but with a modern twist: “you didn’t even see it.” He’s not entirely wrong. Internet hate-trains are very real, and they gather steam with alarming speed.

Andy Muschietti continued, suggesting the anger wasn’t even about his film. “They don’t really know. People are angry for reasons that are unrelated to these things.” It’s an interesting, if convenient, theory. Are people just mad at the world and taking it out on the latest DC blockbuster? Maybe. Or maybe they didn’t like the uncanny valley CGI babies—tomato, tomahto.

Was Ezra Miller the Elephant in the Speed Force?

Of course, you can’t talk about “The Flash’s” reception without addressing the Ezra Miller-sized elephant in the room. The star’s numerous legal troubles and public controversies created a PR nightmare for Warner Bros. long before the movie hit theaters. It’s a factor Andy Muschietti openly acknowledges.

The director admits, “Of course, we had a publicity crisis with Ezra that is undeniable. And I’m not questioning that.” It’s hard to argue with that point. The constant stream of negative headlines surrounding the film’s lead undoubtedly soured the experience for many potential viewers, making it difficult to separate the art of “The Flash” from the artist’s deeply problematic behavior.

Despite this “publicity crisis,” Muschietti praised the studio for sticking by the project. “We also had so much support from the studio, really, at a point where they could have been like, you know, backing out because of all the issues we were having with publicity. And they went all in, and we all went all in.” It’s a nice sentiment, but one has to wonder if “going all in” was the wisest financial move when your ship is actively taking on water.

Andy Muschietti Stands By His Film

Regardless of the box office numbers, the critical drubbing, and the endless online mockery, Andy Muschietti remains fiercely proud of “The Flash.” He’s not just defending it; he’s championing it. “No, we just moved on and understood that sometimes there’s a headwind and a project that you dedicated a lot of work to,” he told The Playlist.

“And we’re very proud of it. I think it’s a good movie.” It’s the kind of loyalty you have to respect, even if you don’t share the sentiment. The director poured years of his life into this film, and it seems he can still see the vision he originally intended, untainted by the external chaos.

“We gave it our blood, sweat, and tears all the way to the end. And I watched it, like a week ago, and loved it again.” Good for him, honestly. In a world of cynical cash-grabs, having a director who genuinely loves his creation, warts and all, is refreshing. So, what’s the verdict? Was “The Flash” a misunderstood masterpiece sabotaged by online trolls and bad press? Or was it just a mediocre movie with questionable effects and a messy plot that failed to connect with audiences, especially in the midst of a dying DC franchise?

Final Thoughts

While bandwagoning is a real phenomenon, dismissing all criticism as uninformed hate feels like a cop-out. Many people did see the film and were left disappointed. Still, you can’t fault Andy Muschietti for standing by his work. After all, if the director doesn’t love his movie, who will?