With COVID cases on the rise, all eyes are on Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings this weekend. Rumour has it that Disney will consider having Eternals debut on Disney+'s Premier Access service the same day it drops in theaters if this movie fails to live up to expectations, but it's not off to a bad start.
Deadline reports that the latest Phase 4 release earned $8.8 million from Thursday evening screenings. While that is lower than Black Widow's $13.2 million, it's still the second-best result from this pandemic era, surpassing movies like F9: The Fast Saga and A Quiet Place Part II. It remains to be seen where things go from here, but the movie is likely to break two very different records.
Chances are Shang-Chi will top Halloween's Labor Day weekend opening record of $30.6 million, but, at the same time, it will almost certainly be the lowest debut for a Marvel Studios movie!
There are a lot of factors at play here, though, including a character who is unknown to regular moviegoers and the fact that box office takings are down as COVID cases increase. It's a little too soon for opening weekend projections, but we'll make sure to keep you updated.
The trade does, however, note that a global launch of $90 million - $100 million seems likely.
In our latest review of the Marvel Studios movie, we concluded by saying: "Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is nothing short of action movie perfection; this is the MCU like you’ve never seen before, and it’s no exaggeration to say Simu Liu was born to play the MCU’s newest Avenger."
Will you guys be watching Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings this weekend?
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