Initial box office estimates pointed to Thor: Love and Thunder looking forward to a hefty $300+ opening weekend worldwide, and Taika Waititi's Ragnarok sequel is off to a very respectable start after taking in over $15 million following its first day on release overseas.
Variety reports that the latest Marvel Studios adventure made $15.7 million after debuting in 17 overseas markets, including Germany, Italy, Australia and Korea. Ticket sales are said to be pacing 39% ahead of Thor: Ragnarok, but 24% behind Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. As it stands, Love and Thunder is expected to amass at least $145 million to $155 million in North America, and another $140 million to $150 million internationally.
Critics haven't been quite as responsive to Taika Waititi's comedic romp through the cosmos, and although reviews are far from negative overall, it has scored on the lower end of the MCU spectrum on Rotten Tomatoes (70%).
Have you managed to catch Thor: Love and Thunder yet? If so, what did you think? Be sure to let us know in the usual place.
Thor: Love and Thunder finds Thor (Chris Hemsworth) on a journey unlike anything he’s ever faced – a quest for inner peace. But his retirement is interrupted by a galactic killer known as Gorr the God Butcher (Christian Bale), who seeks the extinction of the gods. To combat the threat, Thor enlists the help of King Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson), Korg (Taika Waititi) and ex-girlfriend Jane Foster (Natalie Portman), who – to Thor’s surprise – inexplicably wields his magical hammer, Mjolnir, as the Mighty Thor.
Together, they embark upon a harrowing cosmic adventure to uncover the mystery of the God Butcher’s vengeance and stop him before it’s too late.
Directed by Waititi (Thor: Ragnarok, Jojo Rabbit) and produced by Kevin Feige and Brad Winderbaum, Thor: Love and Thunder opens in theaters July 8, 2022.