In the wake of celebrating our nation’s founding, it is harder to imagine a better time to reflect on the life of one preeminent Founding Father. Angel Studio’s Young Washington walks audiences through the lesser-known period of George Washington’s life, focusing on his pre-Revolutionary War experiences.
The movie’s message about the value of strength and endurance has clearly resonated with Americans. Young Washington opened domestically to an exceptional $20.8 million, blowing past its $15 million projections, and grossing more than $7.6 million on July 4 alone. The film was produced for just $20 million, meaning it’s on track to be a hit.
In comparison, DC’s summer blockbuster Supergirl also opened this past weekend, but only raked in $37 million. Compared to its $275 million production budget and years of fanbase development, Supergirl is not the smashing success Warner Bros was hoping for.
The disparity between Young Washington and Supergirl is not a coincidence, but indicative of a broader cultural divide. The main characters of superhero films have been trending snarky and morally grey. Supergirl’s marketing team focused on the female superhero’s angst and her role as a “girl boss.”
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