‘Deadpool and Wolverine’ Expected to Shatter R-Rated Records with $438M Debut

July 2024 ended spectacularly at the box office with Marvel Studios making a triumphant return. The weekend registered the biggest opening since “Spider-Man: No Way Home” in late 2022.

The release of “Deadpool and Wolverine” faced a major hurdle due to its R-rating, replete with swearing and bloody violence. Despite concerns that this might hurt its box office performance, the movie garnered an 80% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, setting high expectations from the start.

The film pulled in $38.5 million in Thursday previews, rivaling 2018’s “Avengers: Infinity War.” It already collected $64 million overseas before the weekend. On its opening Friday, “Deadpool and Wolverine” earned $96 million, totaling an estimated $205 million for the weekend. This makes it only the ninth film ever to surpass $200 million in an opening weekend and the first R-rated movie to achieve this milestone. It also stands as the biggest July release, topping “The Lion King” from 2019 with its $191 million debut, and ranks as the eighth-biggest domestic opening of all time.

“Deadpool and Wolverine” now needs to secure another $165.6 million domestically to surpass Mel Gibson’s “The Passion of the Christ,” which grossed $370.8 million in 2004. The original “Deadpool” came close with $363 million, and this sequel is poised to break more records for an R-rated film. Globally, it has some distance to cover before reaching the $1.06 billion earned by 2019’s “Joker.”

Internationally, “Deadpool and Wolverine” earned $233.3 million, making its global opening a staggering $438.3 million within five days. Audiences have embraced the movie, reflected in its “A” CinemaScore and a 97% Audience Score on Rotten Tomatoes.

This weekend, Marvel Studios also held its Hall H panel at San Diego Comic-Con, announcing future projects, including Robert Downey Jr. returning as Doctor Doom in two Avengers films set for 2026 and 2027.

Meanwhile, the action reboot “Twisters” fell to second place with $35.3 million, bringing its domestic total to $154.9 million in ten days. Universal’s animated sequel “Despicable Me 4” took third place with $14.2 million, bringing its domestic earnings to $290.8 million. It is expected to hit the $300 million mark soon and has already grossed $677.7 million worldwide.

Another notable performer, Disney-Pixar’s “Inside Out 2,” crossed the $600 million milestone domestically last week and added another $8.3 million this weekend. Its domestic total now stands at $613.4 million, making it the highest-grossing animated film domestically. Internationally, it has amassed $892.2 million, bringing its global total to over $1.5 billion.

Neon’s thriller “Longlegs,” featuring Maika Monroe and Nicolas Cage, continued to thrive, earning $6.8 million this weekend and raising its domestic total to $58.6 million. This makes it Neon’s highest-grossing domestic hit, surpassing “Parasite.”

“A Quiet Place: Day One” added $3 million in its fifth weekend, now totaling $134.2 million domestically. “Bad Boys: Ride or Die” remained in seventh place with $1.3 million, and while it passed $200 million internationally, its domestic total is $191.8 million.

The comedy “The Fabulous Four,” starring Bette Midler, Susan Sarandon, Megan Mullally, and Sheryl Lee Ralph, had a disappointing opening, making just $1 million in 1,045 theaters and placing eighth. “Fly Me to the Moon” dropped dramatically to ninth place with $750,000, bringing its domestic total to $19.1 million.

Focus Features released “Dìdi (弟弟),” a coming-of-age film by Sean Wang, into five theaters in New York and L.A. ahead of its nationwide release, earning an estimated $200,000 with a robust $40k per location average.

There won’t be much competition for the box office prediction game this week, as most participants predicted the top five accurately, including “Deadpool and Wolverine” leading with over $125 million.

Eight players scored perfectly in the July 19 game, with “Vahniteja” leading by using their Super Bet to score 24,200 points, even surpassing board leader “MellowDrama” who scored 21,500 points.

Filmmaker M. Night Shyamalan returns on Friday with his latest thriller, “Trap,” starring Josh Hartnett. More details will be shared in the weekend preview on Wednesday, along with the monthly box office preview for August.

Source: Gold Derby, Box Office Mojo, Rotten Tomatoes