Bumblebee didn't tank. It made $420,361,283 with a budget of $135 million. That's way more than double it's budget. As for why it didn't do better? December was top heavy already with Aquaman and Marry Poppins out as well.

@Innovator said:

Bumblebee didn't tank. It made $420,361,283 with a budget of $135 million. That's way more than double it's budget. As for why it didn't do better? December was top heavy already with Aquaman and Marry Poppins out as well.

Domestically it's only made $117 million while Aquaman has made $307 domestically in the same amount of time. Bumblebee is on track to be the lowest grossing Transformers film, although in fairness it cost quite a bit less than The Last Knight. But factoring in the domestic and foreign ad budget there's no way Bumblebee is making that much profit, it might break even.

My point being, despite the positive reception, it's still doing worse than the others both domestic and foreign.

@cswood said:

@Innovator said:

Bumblebee didn't tank. It made $420,361,283 with a budget of $135 million. That's way more than double it's budget. As for why it didn't do better? December was top heavy already with Aquaman and Marry Poppins out as well.

Domestically it's only made $117 million while Aquaman has made $307 domestically in the same amount of time. Bumblebee is on track to be the lowest grossing Transformers film, although in fairness it cost quite a bit less than The Last Knight. But factoring in the domestic and foreign ad budget there's no way Bumblebee is making that much profit, it might break even.

My point being, despite the positive reception, it's still doing worse than the others both domestic and foreign.

Lets also not forget they dont get all that money. It has to be split up. As for why its not doing to good. The competition is very stiff and also I think people are tired of being burned by the franchise. Not to mention franchise fatigue is also a thing. I dont really think it has much to do with a female lead honestly. Transformers isnt exactly hot right now. So I dont think more boys would have gone even if they hired a male lead. I think the fan base is pretty old actually and from what I hear they always had issues with the films not focusing on the Transformers and more on the human elements.

If anything they should have hired a better known actress for the lead to try and get more people in the seats.

Well i don't think you need to have a male protagonist to appeal to a male audience. Case in Point, Alien/Terminator 2. Besides Charlie Watson is a far better protagonist than Sam Witwicky. Who was a annoying pathetic horny moron who somehow manages to get Megan Fox to date him. Instead of getting her boyfriend to dunk Sam's head in the toilet. Like what would happen in real life. As for why it didn't make tons a money. I can only think people were expecting another Micheal Bay Sh!tfest. And Frankly im surprise Aquaman made as much as it did. Ever since the SuperFriends days Aquaman been seen as a lame Superhero. Even the recent comics made a running gag of him getting angry everytime someone made a joke about him talking to fish.

@Nygma-0999 said:

Well i don't think you need to have a male protagonist to appeal to a male audience. Case in Point, Alien/Terminator 2.

The first Alien and Terminator aren't exactly good examples of what I mean. They were R rated horror films (action/horror for T1) and were not sold on the female leads or to sell toys (though toys were eventually made same for Robocop which was not exactly kid friendly).

I totally agree female lead action films can appeal to males, but Transformers were generally aimed at boys to sell toys. I mean you wouldn't expect boys to go see a Barbie or My Little Pony movie with a male lead would you?

Besides Charlie Watson is a far better protagonist than Sam Witwicky. Who was a annoying pathetic horny moron who somehow manages to get Megan Fox to date him.

Well having a nerdy main character who hooks up with a hot girl was kind of a standard of 80s and 90s films like that meant to appeal to teen boys, and those first few Transformers movies made bank so it worked in this case (don't forget he got a new hot girl in part 3(?)).

And Frankly im surprise Aquaman made as much as it did.

Yeah me too! That's kind of why I made this post because I would have bet Bumblebee would have made more than Aquaman.

@cswood said:

the history of Transformers and that it's mostly about selling toys, toys primarily for boys.

I don't buy toys, but the female lead certainly has my attention.