We've heard various bits and pieces about Deadpool & Wolverine breaking minor ticket-selling records, but Marvel Studios' first R-Rated movie has finally hit box office tracking boards.
According to Deadline, six weeks ahead of the threequel's release, it's eyeing a massive $200 million - $239 million opening weekend. However, The Quorum (which monitors tracking) believes this is a "conservative" estimate.
As the trade rightly points out, an R-Rated movie has never opened to as much as $200 million before; in fact, the current record is held by the first Deadpool movie. In 2016, it debuted with $132.4 million, but Deadpool & Wolverine will almost certainly top that number.
That R-Rating is going to reduce the number of people who watch the movie in theaters, but the vast majority of chains allow children under 17 to watch titles with that rating providing they're accompanied by an adult who is above the age of 21.
The report later explains, "Among those willing to pay to see the movie in a theater, the Shawn Levy-directed threequel blows away all other titles this summer with a high score. In fact, it’s the highest of any movie this summer in any metric across unaided and total awareness and interest."
In some areas, Deadpool & Wolverine is even beating Spider-Man: No Way Home, so even if doesn't crack $200 million, the latest Marvel Studios movie is going to be huge.
Simply put, they need a win after a rough 2023 - Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania and The Marvels both underperformed - and this could be the movie that sets them and the Multiverse Saga back on the right track. That's going to be key with Captain America: Brave New World, The Fantastic Four, and Thunderbolts* heading our way in 2025.
Deadpool & Wolverine has been marketed mostly around the long-awaited team-up between Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman's Marvel characters with Multiversal elements kept at a minimum beyond a few exciting teases for fans.
Stay tuned for updates.
Shawn Levy directs Deadpool & Wolverine, which stars Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, Emma Corrin, Morena Baccarin, Rob Delaney, Leslie Uggams, Karan Soni, and Matthew Macfadyen. The movie is written by Ryan Reynolds & Rhett Reese & Paul Wernick & Zeb Wells & Shawn Levy.
The trades have confirmed that Jennifer Garner will reprise her role as Elektra, with Wesley Snipes, James Marsden, Famke Janssen, Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, Dafne Keen, Channing Tatum, Blake Lively and even singer Taylor Swift among those rumoured to make an appearance.
Kevin Feige, Reynolds, Levy and Lauren Shuler Donner produce with Louis D’Esposito, Wendy Jacobson, Mary McLaglen, Josh McLaglen, Rhett Reese, Paul Wernick, George Dewey, Simon Kinberg and Jonathon Komack Martin serving as executive producers.
Deadpool & Wolverine arrives in theaters on July 26.