Buoyed by incredible pre-release buzz and a resounding panel at the ongoing San Diego Comic-Con, Marvel Studios’Deadpool & Wolverineis not just breaking records; it’s setting new benchmarks that might remain untouchable for a long time. Initially projected to deliver a domestic debut around $170 million, the superhero sequel has soared beyond expectations, after bringing in a staggering $211 million in its first three days. This jaw-dropping figure not only marks the best opening weekend for an R-rated film, but it also ranks among the top 10 opening weekends of all time.
For some perspective,Deadpool & Wolverinehas surpassed the domestic opening of the cultural juggernautBlack Panther, which grossed $202 million in its first weekend. Incredibly, this latest Marvel outing has already out-earned the entire worldwide run ofThe Marvelsin just three days. Additionally, the film has trumped the opening weekend figures of several major Marvel hits, includingAvengers: Age of Ultron($191 million),Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness($187 million),Black Panther: Wakanda Forever($181 million),Captain America: Civil War($179 million), andIron Man 3($174 million).
Globally,Deadpool & Wolverinehit the $443 million mark in its opening weekend. This puts it well on its way to becoming the first film in theDeadpoolseries to cross the coveted $1 billion milestone. By comparison, the firstDeadpoolmovie ended its global run with just over $780 million, whileDeadpool 2reached a similar figure with $785 million worldwide. The film has garnered solid reviews, holding an 80% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, but it’s the audience response that’s truly stellar. The movie boasts a remarkable 97% audience score on the platform, reflecting the long-awaited excitement for the reunion ofRyan Reynolds and Hugh Jackmanunder the direction ofShawn Levy.
What Else Did Well This Week?
Despite the dominance of the Marvel film, other releases managed to hold their ground.Universal’sTwistersslipped to number two but still pulled in a solid $35.3 milliondomestically, bringing its running total to over $150 million. Internationally, it added another $11 million, for a global total of $221.3 million. Despite a 55% drop due to the competition fromDeadpool & Wolverine,Twistersis expected to surpass $200 million domestically, marking a significant success.
In third place, Universal’sDespicable Me 4continued its strong performance, adding $14.2 million in its fourth weekend, pushing its domestic total past the $290 million mark, whilePixar’sInside Out 2secured the fourth spot with $8.3 million in its seventh weekend. The animated sequel has now become the highest-grossing animated movie of all time domestically, with $613 million, surpassingIncredibles 2. It has also overtakenFrozen II’s global lifetime haul of $1.45 billion.
Rounding out the top five was Neon’s breakout hit,Longlegs. The horror-thriller generated approximately $6.8 million in its third weekend, bringing its domestic total to nearly $60 million.Looking ahead,M. Night Shyamalan’sTrap, starringJosh Hartnettas a secret serial killer trapped in an arena during a concert, is set to release this weekend. While it faces stiff competition from the box office giantsDeadpool & WolverineandTwisters, its low budget gives it a fighting chance.
Stay tuned to Collider for more updates on the box office and all your favorite films.
