'Aquaman' to have a digital release on January 1 after underperforming at the box office

'Aquaman' is set to make a splash on streaming platform Netflix this New Year! Starting January 1, 2024, the film will be available for streaming online, reports Collider. This follows the streaming giant's recent inclusion of various DC superhero movies from 2023, such as 'Shazam! Fury of the Gods', 'The Flash', and 'Blue Beetle'. The choice for a new streaming partner coincides with challenges faced by 'The Lost Kingdom', during its theatrical debut. The film not only fell short of box office projections, earning approximately $38 million over the extended Christmas holiday weekend but also financially underperformed. The film had a huge budget of $200 million, excluding marketing costs. It remains unclear if it will be able to recover costs. In contrast, the original 'Aquaman' surpassed expectations, grossing over $1.1 billion after its 2018 release.Reports claim that various factors may have contributed to the box office washout. While some say that "superhero fatigue" could have barred people from heading to theatres, others claimed that DC fans chose to boycott the film due to Amber Heard's involvement following her 'guilty' verdict during the Johnny Depp defamation case. The film's poor box office reception has also been linked to the impending conclusion of the DC Extended Universe (DCEU) timeline with James Gunn and Peter Safran gearing up to usher in the next phase.