Consumers spent $4.5 billion on DC Comics merchandise in 2016

Time Warner, the parent company to Warner Bros. and DC Comics, announced its earnings to shareholders today. Consumers spent $4.5 billion on DC Comics merchandise in 2016, which contributed to record performance in their Consumer Products division.

That merchandise includes things like toys, t-shirts, and video games. It doesn't take the box office receipts into consideration, of which Batman v Superman and Suicide Squad made an additional $1.6 billion.

Consumers spent an estimated $4.5B on @DCComics merchandise last yr, contributing to our record performance in Consumer Productsâ€“Bewkes $TWX
— WarnerMedia (@WarnerMedia) February 8, 2017

During Time Warner's earnings call, Warner Bros. CEO Kevin Tsujihara said that the company plans to move forward with a streaming service that will allow consumers to rent movies at home while they're still in theaters.

Last year, AT&T announced it will purchase Time Warner for $85.4 billion. That deal is expected to close later this year.

33 comments

residentgrigo

February 8, 2017

Comics are seen as merch too..., this can´t be right, and isn´t the current US cabinet against the AT&T merger?

BatmanNewsChris
February 8, 2017
Honestly, I'm not sure. I took out "comics" to avoid confusion.
1. residentgrigo
  February 9, 2017
  GNs were on the NYT book bestseller list until this month and i never saw any of the books in my library (i am a librarian) as this: "Merchandising: The activity of promoting the sale of goods at retail".
  http://www.businessdictiona...
  Comics, Blu-rays and so on are the product that is promoted. They are also a primary source for the characters.

Black Adam

February 8, 2017

Awesome. I played my part buying this

http://mightymega.com/wp-co...

Joe K.
February 8, 2017
Damn that's sick. Did you open this or keep it boxed?
Jax Teller
February 8, 2017
Holy crap... i'd have bought that on the spot. Favorite CBM scene.

Worlds Finest Comments

February 8, 2017

Bet WB and DC made more money on Harley Quinn merchandise than they did on Suicide Squad's box office last year. She was in every store, from Walmart to hot Topic and everything in between.

josh0909
February 8, 2017
That's where a lot of the real money truly is. People look too much into box office. There's a reason they're fast tracking a Harley Quinn movie. I went to two 3 Halloween parties and the number 1 costume at each one was a SS Harley Quinn outfit.
SunRiver
February 9, 2017
Doesn't that point contradict itself seeing how Suicide Squad was also a Harley Quinn merchandise? Isn't that the purpose of all movies?
The movie's quality aside, Suicide Squad's box office was a big success despite China's obscure ban but it's becoming a repetitive conversation on the site by now.

Drew Atkins

February 8, 2017

Yes!! Did you hear that WB Games said to "save the date" for March 8, written in Arkham Origins' font? A Batman Beyond-style Arkham game by WB Montreal has been rumored for some time. I'm also anxious to see what Rocksteady does next

diogo02000

February 8, 2017

Some members of the press still could say this numbers of DC Films related products is a "failure", and a sign people aren't interested about these movies and the approach they bring... RIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIGHT.

John Johnson

February 8, 2017

With the political landscape as toxic as it is right now, I wonder if these numbers will be even higher for 2017. Will people be spending a lot more money to escape this reality?

And obviously this has all been one big DC fail. I mean c'mon, $6,000,000,000?! That's embarrassing.

Canucks Fan

February 8, 2017

2 Flash T-Shirts my cat ruined the first one i bought had to buy another
2 Batman T-Shirts one i shrunk out of extra large but still keep it
2 Green Lantern shirts still got both but the first one was pretty dark you can barely tell it's a green lantern shirt so i call it my Green Arrow shirt

Forgot about movies

Saw BvS twice once in Imax and honestly i didn't notice that big of a difference being my first hollywood Imax movie to justify travelling an hour and paying more

Suicide Squad once wanted to go again but i think i went to a lot of other movies that year so was starting to just do 1 viewing

4 graphic novels but apparently they don't count those

Batman Black Mirror
Batman Earth One Volume 1 and 2
Batman Dark Victory

Schuyler Finley

February 8, 2017

Will we get to shoot arrows into folks' eyes?

josh0909

February 8, 2017

This is why WB's would never ever reboot the DCEU. Comic book movies are big time money makers in every area. I wouldn't be shocked if that 4.5 billion was driven in part by people loading up on SS merch and BVS stuff.

Canucks Fan
February 8, 2017
Suicide Squad especially being in Hot Topic and other stores

ken

February 8, 2017

I contributed to at least $1B in that number. first with the comics with Rebirth I just had to buy all the number 1s then BvS merchandising from Slippers to the cereals that I wasn't supposed to open then I cracked and eat them so I had to buy them again, I obviously bought the hats and few figurines and also some posters here and there. With SS oh boy I bought the soundtrack literally all the posters (they look so good) some figurines 3 Jackets, the Deadshoot helmet that my son of bitch of a best friend "mistakenly packed" in his bag before going back to Belgium. And of course I bought all the JL vs SS comics. I know I'm pathetic but her you either an hardcore fan or you're not.

IamTheOneWhoKnocks

February 8, 2017

I really like that idea of a streaming service for movies that are in the theaters. Of course I prefer the big screen, but sometimes people can ruin the movie for you by getting up, talking, and other nonsense in the middle of a great scene. Don't know about other parts of the country, but in NYC this is a huge problem and I would definitely stream it at home if I had the chance. I usually try to go to the theaters on a weekday, but sometimes that is not possible due to work and school, so this added option would be great for me.

ken
February 8, 2017
Oh yeah sometimes people can really ruin the experience. I had the worst time ever watching Fantastic Beasts with some annoying bitch next to me. she was with her boyfriend and she was being loud and on the phone so me and a few patrons told her boyfriend to please quiet her down he understood but that bicth took it to and whole nother level and start arguing with him because he didn't defend her💀and literally started singing yes singing just to annoy everybody the security came but it a small Imax theater in downtown Raleigh with only one screen and like 2 college kids playing security so there wasn't much that they could do. her boyfriend feeling so bad finally left mid movie forcing her to follow him shouting. The most annoying part is that it was a Thursday premier at the only real Imax theater in town you know the kind of screening where you have nothing but fans or at least movie enthusiasts to have a random broad on a date ruining the experience was a really infuriating.
1. IamTheOneWhoKnocks
  February 9, 2017
  Incredible, I hope that guy broke up with that girl, too many red flags there, lol. Anyways, one time I was able to go to the movie theater on a weekday, you know figuring out I could be at peace. I had a guy sitting near me full blown drunk, I could smell his alcohol breath even though I was a good 4 to 5 sits away. To make matters worse, he kept on falling asleep through out the movie and snoring, but not loud enough where everyone could hear him, but only those close by. I had to move, and the only sits available were those close to the screen where you are so close it bothers your eyes. Terrible experience, so if they definitely have my money whenever this streaming service come out.
  1. THE BATMAN
    February 9, 2017
    when i was watching x men apocalypse there was 3 asian people in the back talking loudly and laughing they were not even watching the movie they were in there to talk i told them to shut up but nothing the movie was ruined so i got up in front of the screen stuck both my middle fingers up and left believe what you want but i am just sharing my story
    1. IamTheOneWhoKnocks
      February 9, 2017
      Respect!
    2. THE BATMAN
      February 9, 2017
      thank you lol afterwards i was kinda nervous that i would get caught on the camera and go viral on youtube
    3. IamTheOneWhoKnocks
      February 9, 2017
      Lol...that would have been awesome!

Supermansteve

February 9, 2017

https://uploads.disquscdn.c... https://uploads.disquscdn.c...
Here are my contributions not including the posters, T shirts, socks, Hat. far out I could go.

Supermansteve

February 9, 2017

https://uploads.disquscdn.c...
Hall H lost their #@%& when this Teaser was reviewed. Such a brilliant moment in History.

Supermansteve

February 9, 2017

https://www.youtube.com/wat...

Supermansteve

February 9, 2017

https://www.youtube.com/wat...

Mario

February 9, 2017

https://uploads.disquscdn.c...
Oh but not enough, Warner needs at least a trillion to break even, DC is doomed...

Publicenemy85

February 9, 2017

My list that contributed to this fund.
1 Green Lantern Shirt, 1 BVS T shirt, 1 Superman T shirt.
1 collector's item Batmobile (Legends of the Dark Knight).
Around 25$ a week on DC Rebirth Comics.
Batman Telltale Series on PS4
BVS Dawn of Justice Blueray
Suicide Squad Blueray
1 Giant Deathstroke Poster.

Jesus, I think I must have dropped a good 800$ from all that not counting the movie tickets.