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 opening weekend, the highest debut of 2024 and for an R-rated film ever.
The film far exceeded analysts’ expectations, with an opening weekend expected to reach between $160 million and $180 million.
“The big debut of ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ will convince anyone who gave up on the big screen in May that you can never underestimate the power, appeal and unpredictability of the theatrical experience,” said Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst at Comscore.
Internationally, the film earned $233.3 million, bringing its estimated global total for the weekend to $438.3 million.
“Deadpool & Wolverine” is the 34th film 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 through 20th Century Fox. Disney acquired the company in 2019, bringing the X-Men and Fantastic Four back into Marvel’s larger portfolio.
Like previous entries in the MCU, “Deadpool & Wolverine” benefited from fan enthusiasm. Audiences were eager to see the film on its opening weekend to avoid spoilers. Disney kept much of the film’s plot a secret and offered limited press screenings ahead of its release.
The strong debut of “Deadpool & Wolverine” comes after a post-pandemic box office slump for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Disney has overloaded the market with superhero streaming content in recent years, and the push for quantity at the box office has led to a decline in quality.
“Marvel took a short break to rejuvenate its creative direction after some controversial blockbusters, and this return has certainly helped the superhero genre succeed,” said Shawn Robbins, founder and owner of Box Office Theory.
“The record-breaking R-rated debut not only shows that Marvel and Disney can afford to throw a little shade when necessary, but also that Marvel fans and casual audiences are still hungry for the kind of entertaining and meaningful blockbuster storytelling that has made them such an unparalleled success,” he added.
“Deadpool and Wolverine” opens alongside Marvel’s San Diego Comic Con panel, which revealed a new slate of films and gave fans a taste of where the franchise is headed in the coming years. That includes Sam Wilson, the newly-named Captain America, trying to rebuild the Avengers after they were disbanded following the battle with Thanos, and the upcoming appearance of Doctor Doom, played by Iron Man himself, Robert Downey Jr.
“Each film should be considered on a case-by-case basis, but Deadpool & Wolverine along with the announcements at Comic Con this weekend mark significant steps on the path that could reignite enthusiasm for the franchise as a whole,” Robbins said.
