They’re not lying per-se - but they can game the numbers. Disney could’ve pre-bought theaters for “charity” or as part of contractual obligations to the theaters.
Ant-man and Wonder Woman both did about 90 million opening weekend so that’s the benchmark. Even Disney was predicting that.
But how much was it worth to Disney’s social justice message to make a hit. What would it have said if this GRRL POWER movie had flopped?
Feminist groups!