Deadpool & Wolverine shatters box office records in opening weekend

After a string of box office failures and fizzling fanfare in a post-Avengers: Endgame world, the latest release from the illustrious production company has shattered records in its opening weekend.

Deadpool & Wolverine, the hugely-anticipated third film starring Ryan Reynolds in the titular role, which also resurrects Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine, made a staggering $US205 million in US and Canadian ticket sales alone, heralding the biggest domestic opening of the year, according to Disney.

The Shawn-Levy directed superhero smash beat the record the debut Deadpool set in 2016, becoming the highest-selling US R-rated film in an opening weekend, while also sliding its way into the top 10 openings of all time.

It’s also the highest debut weekend figure since Barbie painted cinemas pink last year, with Margot Robbie’s summer blockbuster making $US162 million tickets in its opening weekend in July.

Deadpool & Wolverine opened in international markets on Wednesday, where it’s raked in a further $US233.3 million, Disney said, putting it on track for a global opening of more than $US438.3 million.

It comes after the studio’s heavily-billed 2023 release The Marvels became the lowest-grossing film of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) franchise, claiming a worldwide box office total of $US206.1 million, falling painfully short of a break-even figure of $US439.6 million.

The film’s failure, combined with a string of lacklustre releases from Disney in cinemas and on streaming, raised questions about the future of the once-dominant MCU – which has a combined box office gross of more than $US30 billion.

But with news of Deadpool & Wolverine’s staggering opening, as well as a major Marvel announcement at San Diego Comic-Con at the weekend, the studio looks poised to restore its former glory.

US actor Robert Downey Jr. sensationally announced his MCU comeback at the fan-event in true, over-the-top Robert Downey Jr. style on Saturday, with the star set to reprise the new character Dr Doom in two upcoming Avengers movies.

Downey Jr., who kickstarted the MCU playing Tony Stark in 2008’s Iron Man, was killed off in 2019’s ultimate Avengers: Endgame, bringing to an end his decade-long reign as one of the franchise’s most beloved heroes.

In an unveiling befitting of the enormity of the announcement, Downey Jr., 58, coyly walked onstage at Comic-Con, going incognito in an olive-green robe with dozens of others wearing metal masks belonging to Doctor Doom.

The Oscar winning actor dramatically pulled off the mask and revealed his face to raucous cheers and applause.

Russo brothers Joe and Anthony, who directed a number of MCU movies including Infinity War, have been tapped to direct the next two Avengers films in which Downey Jr. will star as the notorious antagonist, in Avengers: Doomsday, due out in May 2026, and Avengers: Secret Wars, set to be released in May 2027.

Elsewhere at the panel, Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige unveiled details for the studio’s 2025 releases, including Captain America: Brave New World with Harrison Ford as Thaddeus Ross, as well as Thunderbolts starring Florence Pugh.