Entertainment
‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ Opening Weekend Surpasses $200 Million, Biggest R-Rated Debut
“Deadpool & Wolverine” surpassed the $200 million milestone, solidifying its status as the highest-grossing opening weekend for an R-rated film.
According to studio estimations, “Deadpool & Wolverine” — the 34th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe roster — debuted with $205 million in domestic sales and $438.3 million worldwide.
When the original Deadpool film was released in 2016, it broke the record for the biggest grossing opening weekend for an R-rated film, generating approximately $132 million, while “Deadpool 2” came in second with $125 million domestic sales in 2018. Even when adjusted for inflation, both films pale in comparison to the third installment’s debut.
Deadpool | Hollywood Reporter Image
‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ Opening Weekend Surpasses $200 Million, Biggest R-Rated Debut
“Deadpool & Wolverine” is currently among the top opening weekends ever, ranking eighth — a hair’s breadth behind 2012’s “The Avengers” ($207 million) and slightly ahead of 2018’s “Black Panther” ($202 million).
Marvel properties account for six of the ten largest debuts. According to Disney, with “Deadpool & Wolverine” joining the ranks, Marvel movies are worth more than $30 billion altogether, making Marvel the highest-grossing film series of all time.
Still, the MCU has been struggling to find its feet since its phenomenally successful “Infinity Saga” concluded with 2019’s “Avengers: Endgame,” a film that still holds the record for the greatest opening weekend by nearly $100 million. Since then, several of Marvel’s recent releases have failed to impress fans and critics.
Could “Deadpool & Wolverine” revitalize the franchise?
“We should continue to approach each film on its own terms, with varying success thresholds, especially as the MCU rebuilds with several films next year before the anticipated return of Avengers films,” Shawn Robbins, founder and owner of Box Office Theory, told CNN.
The fifth and sixth “Avengers” films are set for 2026 and 2027, respectively, providing Marvel with a four-film runway to build momentum.
“Still, there’s no denying ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ is a massive win in its own right, with a unique hook attracting die-hard Marvel fans and casual audiences alike,” Robbins said. “This release is the breath of fresh air Marvel has been working towards, and it ushers in a new era for the whole brand. It’s a win for everyone: Disney, Marvel, theatre owners, and moviegoers.
According to Box Office Pro data, the excitement surrounding “Deadpool & Wolverine” has boosted demand for theatre showings, increasing the number of times the film is screened in theatres across the country. It presently has 43% of the showtime market share in the United States.
“We are thrilled to see ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ bringing people to theatres for the biggest opening weekend ever for an R-rated movie,” said Michael O’Leary, president and CEO of the National Association of Theatre Owners. “This is the type of film you want to see on the big screen, and the historic level of excitement this weekend tells us that moviegoers understand there is no experience like theatrical. We also know that when people go to the movies, they want to come back, so we’re pleased to build on this weekend’s momentum with a strong theatrical slate in the coming months.”
The return of the outperforming box office
While the summer box office struggled following a lukewarm spring, many blockbusters have breathed fresh life into the industry.
“Since June, there has been a nonstop parade of over-performing blockbusters starting with ‘Bad Boys: Ride Or Die,’ and continuing with ‘Inside Out 2,’ ‘A Quiet Place: Day One,’ ‘Despicable Me 4,’ ‘Twisters,’ and now ‘Deadpool & Wolverine,’ making for one of the most notable string of hits in summer movie history,” Comscore senior analyst Paul Dergarabedian told CNN Saturday evening.
Last Monday, Disney announced that “Inside Out 2” has become the biggest-grossing animated picture of all time, earning $1.46 billion at the global box office and dethroning the previous record holder, 2019’s “Frozen 2.”
According to Comscore data, domestic sales were more than 25% lower than in 2023 before the film’s debut on June 16. However, less than three weeks after its release, the year-over-year domestic box office revenue loss fell from 27% to 19%.
The deficit now stands at 16.9%, which may continue to diminish depending on how “Deadpool & Wolverine” performs in theatres. “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” was the #1 film at this time last year, grossing more than $574 million domestically. Meanwhile, the ongoing success of “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer” — released on July 21 — helped boost total domestic movie office revenue in 2023 beyond $9 billion, the greatest level since the pandemic.
‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ Opening Weekend Surpasses $200 Million, Biggest R-Rated Debut
“This weekend’s performance certainly makes us more optimistic about the box office prospects for 2024, but we still have a long way to go before the end of the year, and year-over-year comparisons will keep us on a seesaw of ups and downs,” said Dergarabedian, who estimates the full-year box office will be between $8.2 and $8.7 billion. “The fact that we will likely wind up at $8 billion plus, considering how weak first quarter and April were in terms of revenue, is quite impressive.”
SOURCE | CNN
