Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds star in Marvel’s “Deadpool and Wolverine.”
Disney
Marvel is back on top.
Deadpool & Wolverine broke box office records this weekend, grossing $205 million in domestic ticket sales during its premiere, the highest debut of 2024 and of an R-rated film ever.
The film exceeded analysts' expectations, who had expected an opening of between $160 and $180 million.
“The terrific debut of 'Deadpool & Wolverine' should convince those who threw in the towel on the big screen in May that the power, appeal and unpredictability of the movie-going experience should never be underestimated,” said Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst at Comscore.
Internationally, the film grossed $233.3 million, bringing its estimated worldwide box office total for the entire weekend to $438.3 million.
Deadpool & Wolverine is the 34th film to be released under the MCU banner and the first Disney-produced installment to receive an R rating from the Motion Picture Association. The previous two Deadpool films, both rated R, were produced and released by 20th Century Fox. Disney took over the company in 2019 and brought the X-Men and Fantastic Four back into the larger Marvel portfolio.
Much like previous MCU films, Deadpool & Wolverine benefited from fan enthusiasm. Audiences were eager to see the film on opening weekend to avoid spoilers. Disney kept much of the film's plot under wraps, offering limited press screenings before its debut.
The strong start of “Deadpool & Wolverine” comes after a post-pandemic box office slump for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Disney has crowded the market with superhero streaming content in recent years, and its pursuit of quantity at the box office has led to a decline in quality.
“Marvel took a little time off after releasing several controversial blockbusters to renew its creative direction, and with this return to the world of superheroes, it has definitely succeeded,” said Shawn Robbins, founder and owner of Box Office Theory.
“A record-breaking R-rated debut shows not only that Marvel and Disney can spread their wings a little when the content calls for it, but also that Marvel fans and casual audiences alike are still eager for the kind of entertaining and meaningful blockbuster storytelling that drives so much of their unprecedented success,” he added.
The premiere of Deadpool and Wolverine coincided with Marvel's San Diego Comic Con panel, where an updated film slate was revealed and fans got a glimpse of where the franchise is headed in the coming years. This includes Sam Wilson, the newly minted Captain American trying to rebuild the Avengers after they disbanded following their battle with Thanos, and the impending arrival of Doctor Doom, who is set to be played by Iron Man himself, Robert Downey Jr.
“Each film should be considered individually, but Deadpool & Wolverine, along with this weekend's Comic-Con announcements, mark significant steps back on a path that could reignite excitement for the franchise more broadly,” Robbins said.
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