Deadpool & Wolverine Breaks Record, Shreds Box Office with Sharp Claws

Meet the new kids on the block – ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’. They don’t just know how to walk in to a party uninvited, they have the knack of owning it. We’re talking $205 million worth of VIP treatment in domestic ticket sales, on their debut weekend. That’s a staggering figure big enough to make any ‘Avenger’ quake in their spandex.

In the big bad world of movie ratings, it’s actually the largest R-rated debut ever, landing in the honourable eighth place among the biggest opening weekends for films of all ratings, just a hair behind the original Avengers’ $207 million haul from 2012. ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ just waltzed onto the stage and casually became the ninth film in history to bag a bountiful $200 million on its opening weekend.

For context, let’s glance at the performance of their predecessors. The original ‘Deadpool’ raked in a commendable $132 million in its opening weekend in 2016, followed by ‘Deadpool 2’, which pocketed $125 million in 2018. So, the combination of a leather-clad Hugh Jackman and a sprinkle of Marvel Cinematic Universe magic infused an extra $80 million worth of silver screen appeal into the opening weekend.

Deadpool & Wolverine Cuts Deep Into Marvel Cinematic Universe

In the vast and victorious Marvel Cinematic Universe, this duo holds a commendable fifth spot on biggest openings ever, flanked by ‘Avengers: Endgame’, ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’, ‘Avengers: Infinity War,’ and ‘The Avengers’. Not too shabby for a masked maniac and a fast-healing mutant, right?

While fans were having a field day, the box office was ringing with more hits like the ‘Twisters,’ ‘Despicable Me 4,’ and ‘Inside Out 2’ raking in $35.3 million, $14.2 million and $8.3 million, respectively. Oh, and just in case you’re interested, here’s the full estimated box office chart.

Over the last couple of years, we’ve seen numerous whispers about Marvel hitting a rough patch, losing its Midas touch, or seeing its heydays in the rearview mirror. Well, over the span of one paltry weekend, they’ve vaporized those rumors, delivering one of their most enormous openings ever, and launching the most financially fruitful R-rated movie. And just for good measure, they’re bringing back their most potent star to grace two new Avengers movies as Marvel’s most formidable villain. Pretty sure those rumor mills will be out of business.

Next up in the Marvel series after ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ is ‘Captain America: Brave New World’ scheduled to dazzle audiences on February 14, 2025. So, mark your calendars and brace for another superhero-sized impact.

The X-Men Legacy, Unraveled

Ready for a little stroll down memory lane? Let’s rank every single movie in the Fox (now absorbed by Marvel) X-Men film franchise, including all spinoffs and prequels. Popcorn not included.