Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman star in the Marvel movie “Deadpool and Wolverine.”
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disney Marvel’s “Deadpool and Wolverine” took in $38.5 million in its Thursday debut and is on track to gross more than $150 million domestically, which would set a record for an R-rated movie.
The latest addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe is one of the most anticipated films of 2024 and the first R-rated film in the comic book series. The preview download is the eighth largest of all time and the highest for an R-rated release.
“Thursday previews have become an integral part of most major studio release strategies,” said Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst at Comscore. Early viewings are given to eager fans ahead of the release and also provide studios, analysts and studios with a key indicator of potential opening weekend box office.
Comic book blockbusters and franchise movies typically see big jumps at the Thursday night box office as fans look to watch movies early on opening weekends to avoid spoilers. Thursday night preview numbers will be factored into Friday’s box office receipts and calculated as part of the film’s three-day opening weekend.
Top ticket sales for Thursday night previews
- “Avengers: Endgame” — $60 million
- “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” – $57 million
- “Spider-Man: No Way Home” – $50 million
- “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” – $45 million
- “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2” – $43.5 million
- “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker” – $40 million
- “Avengers: Infinity War” — $39 million
- “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” — $36 million
Source: Comscore
The domestic box office of “Deadpool and Wolverine” during its debut is expected to be between $160 million and $180 million.
The box office revenue will set the record for the highest opening weekend for a movie in 2024 and the highest opening ever for an R-rated movie.
“Deadpool and Wolverine” is the 34th film released under the Marvel Universe and the first film to receive an R-rating from the Motion Picture Association of America. The first two “Deadpool” movies were both rated R and were produced and distributed by 20th Century Fox. Disney acquired the company in 2019, bringing the X-Men and Fantastic Four back into the larger Marvel portfolio.
Theater operators told CNBC they don’t expect an R rating to deter moviegoers. In fact, that might be a selling point of the movie.
Shawn Robbins, founder and owner of Box Office Theory, said: “Disney and Marvel have taken their foot off the gas recently, and with fewer releases in theaters and streaming, ‘Deadpool and Wolverine’ could become a catch-all for Disney and Marvel.” “This could reignite interest in the next event-level story, and it’s not a movie that requires the casual or layman to do their homework. “
“Deadpool and Wolverine” is the first MCU movie released since November last year and the only movie released by Marvel Studios in 2024. There are currently four MCUs scheduled for release in 2025, another in 2026, and another in 2027.
However, Marvel will be hosting panels during this weekend’s San Diego Comic-Con and the Disney D23 Expo in August, so the calendar may change. The possible changes come after the firing of Kang actor Jonathan Majors (who will play the main villain in the upcoming film) and production delays caused by last year’s cast and writers’ strike.
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