Warner Bros. has blamed China's coronavirus for the box office failure of Margot Robbie's latest film, Birds of Prey.

The DC Comics movie, which is a sequel to 2016's Suicide Squad focusing on the character of Harley Quinn, topped the U.S. box office but still fell below projections.

With a production budget of $84.5million, Birds of Prey was expected to open to around $50million, but instead brought in just $33.3million in American theatres.

Blame game: Warner Bros. has blamed China's coronavirus for the box office failure of Margot Robbie's latest film, Birds of Prey

It was the same story overseas, where Birds of Prey grossed an estimated $48million from 78 international markets, lifting the total weekend gross to about $81million.

Warner Bros. has said the coronavirus impacted box office takings in Asia.

Birds of Prey doesn't have a Chinese release scheduled, and Suicide Squad never opened there.

Outbreak: Cinemas in China, the world's second largest movie market after the United States, have shut down amid the coronavirus outbreak. Pictured: Chinese passengers at Beijing train station on January 23, 2020

Impact: Warner Bros. has said the coronavirus impacted box office takings in Asia

Cinemas in China, the world's second largest movie market after the United States, have shut down amid the coronavirus outbreak.

Meanwhile, Business Insider has suggested that the film's R-rating may have contributed to its poor box office performance, as it excluded young fans of the popular character Harley Quinn.

'With the R rating, director Cathy Yan wasn't limited in the violence or salty language she could portray, but the movie missed out on the teen market,' the website stated.

The real culprit? Meanwhile, Business Insider has suggested that the film's R-rating may have contributed to its poor box office performance, as it excluded young fans of the popular character Harley Quinn

A spin-off of DC Comics blockbuster Suicide Squad, Birds of Prey was directed by Cathy Yan and produced by Margot Robbie.

Margot also stars as the main character, a crazed criminal who becomes a solo vigilante after splitting from the Joker.

Reviews have been mostly favorable, with an 80 per cent fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes.