‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ sets records

Opening figures suggest Disney is recovering from a lacklustre performance in 2023

The Marvel duo of Deadpool & Wolverine grabbed $38.5 million at U.S. and Canadian box offices in the first screenings of the film on Thursday, distributor Walt Disney said. The early returns, a record for an R-rated movie, suggest Disney will enjoy its second hit in a row in a turnaround for its movie division, reported Reuters.

The opening-day tally ranks as the eighth-highest of all time, behind films such as Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker and “Avengers: Infinity War. By Sunday, Deadpool & Wolverine is expected to claim the largest domestic box office opening of 2024, according to industry analysts. U.S. and Canadian sales through Sunday should hit between $175 million and $185 million, said Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst at Comscore.

Deadpool & Wolverine, the first R-rated Marvel film by Disney, stars Ryan Reynolds as Deadpool, a character known for sexually explicit jokes, swearing and violence. Hugh Jackman plays Wolverine, a sharp-clawed mutant.

The movie opened in international markets on Wednesday and has brought in $64.8 million outside of the United States and Canada, Disney said.

Disney is rebounding from lacklustre performances in 2023 for movies such as The Marvels and Haunted Mansion.

During the promotion of Deadpool & Wolverine earlier, Reynolds, who also co-wrote and produced the film, had said, “It’s about friendship, and friendship is another version of a love story.”

He had added, “There’s so many moments in the movie where it’s hard to tell if Deadpool’s talking to Wolverine, Wolverine talking to Deadpool, or it’s Hugh and Ryan talking to each other. And I’m really proud of those moments.”

Meanwhile, Jackman had not planned to reprise the role of the gruff, clawed X-Man Wolverine. But the Australian actor said his mind started changing after he watched the first Deadpool film. “It was something in here,” he said, pointing at his heart. “I really thought I was done. And then, five or six years later, I was driving and I just knew in my bones I wanted to do that.”

He added, “I knew for fans it would be the thing they’d waited for, I knew it’d be a kind of dynamic that we’ve never seen before. I had no idea how hard it would be physically at age 55 to do it but it’s absolutely worth it. I have loved every second.”