As the most recent “X-Men” franchise film to date, “The New Mutants” premiered on August 28, 2020, and ultimately took the bottom spot on the franchise revenue list. Much of this can be attributed to a very obvious reason — the COVID-19 pandemic. In the summer of 2020, many movie theaters were still closed and trying to figure out how to re-open safely for audiences. Needless to say, a lot of people weren’t headed out to see new releases, opting to stay home for their safety.
Either way, “The New Mutants” ended up losing a considerable amount of money at the box office. On a $67 million dollar budget, the film grossed a total of just over $49 million, making for a loss of about $18 million (via Box Office Mojo). Although, COVID-19 is likely not the only cause, as the critical and audience reception for those who did manage to see it was less than stellar (via Rotten Tomatoes).
However, with the possibility of the “X-Men” joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe due to multiverse happenings in “Spider-Man: No Way Home” and “Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness,” things are looking up for the franchise. The most recent trailer for “The Multiverse of Madness” even features the voice of what many think is Patrick Stewart’s Professor Charles Xavier. We’ll have to wait until May to find out for sure.