In a disappointing turn of events, the highly anticipated superhero film "Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom" has opened to lackluster numbers at the international box office. Despite being part of the DC Extended Universe and featuring renowned actor Jason Momoa as the titular character, the sequel failed to make a splash with ticket sales comparable to previous superhero disappointments like "The Flash," "The Marvels," and "Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania."

Directed by James Wan, "Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom" managed to generate $80 million globally, including a weak $40 million in North America. With a production budget of $205 million, the Warner Bros. and DC film is shaping up to be another underperforming tentpole for DC following a string of misfires this year, including "The Flash," "Shazam! Fury of the Gods," and "Blue Beetle."

Beyond the film's negative reviews and underwhelming audience scores, "Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom" faced the challenge of being positioned as the final installment within the DC Extended Universe before the anticipated reset by new bosses James Gunn and Peter Safran. It is likely that the underwater kingdom's ruler, played by Jason Momoa, may not continue in future DC films.

This disappointing performance is a far cry from the massive success of its predecessor, 2018's "Aquaman," which grossed $816 million internationally and a staggering $1.14 billion globally. The original film found particular success in China, where it opened to $93 million and concluded its run with $292 million. However, due to the ongoing pandemic, Hollywood movies have struggled to thrive in the Chinese market, and "The Lost Kingdom" followed suit, bringing in a mere $30 million over the weekend from 28,140 screens. Other top international markets for the film included Mexico ($5 million), Indonesia ($3.6 million), France ($3.2 million), and the U.K. ($3 million).

Despite the disappointment with "Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom," Warner Bros. has found success with another film in its lineup. "Wonka," a prequel story featuring Timothée Chalamet as the eccentric chocolatier Willy Wonka, has crossed the $250 million mark after just two weeks of release. The film added $33.2 million from 77 international markets, experiencing a mere 33% drop from the previous weekend. With a cost of $100 million, "Wonka" has amassed $171.3 million overseas and $254.9 million in total.

Meanwhile, Universal and Illumination's animated comedy "Migration" has underwhelmed at the international box office, making $22 million after two weeks of release. Although it opened with $17 million in North America over the four-day holiday, its worldwide total stands at $34 million. The film, written by Mike White and featuring the voice cast of Kumail Nanjiani, Elizabeth Banks, and Awkwafina, had a modest production budget of $70 million. However, the studio is hopeful that positive reviews and audience scores will contribute to the film's staying power, following the success of recent family movies like "Puss in Boots: The Last Wish" and Pixar's "Elemental."

In conclusion, while "Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom" struggles to make waves at the box office, "Wonka" finds itself in a sweet spot with impressive global earnings. As the film industry continues to navigate the challenges posed by the pandemic, the success or failure of these films demonstrates the volatility of the international box office and the importance of engaging audiences worldwide.