“Deadpool & Wolverine” Becomes Highest-Grossing R-Rated Movie After Just 10 Days in Theaters
After only 10 days in theaters, “Deadpool & Wolverine” has shattered records, becoming the highest-grossing R-rated movie of all time, not accounting for inflation.
In its second weekend, the Marvel Studios blockbuster, starring Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman, continued its dominance, earning $97 million, according to studio estimates on Sunday. This brings its two-week total to $395.6 million, surpassing the previous record-holder, “The Passion of the Christ,” which held the title for 20 years with $370 million in domestic earnings.
Globally, the Shawn Levy-directed “Deadpool & Wolverine” has already amassed $824.1 million in ticket sales, surpassing the worldwide totals of the first two “Deadpool” films. The original 2016 film grossed $782.6 million globally, while the 2018 sequel earned $734.5 million.
The weekend’s other major releases struggled to compete.
M. Night Shyamalan’s latest thriller, “Trap,” opened with a modest $15.6 million across 3,181 theaters for Warner Bros. The film, starring Josh Hartnett as a serial killer hunted by police at a pop concert, received mixed reviews and scored a C+ CinemaScore from audiences. With a budget of around $35 million, largely financed by Shyamalan himself, “Trap” may face challenges in breaking even.
Similarly, the live-action adaptation of “Harold and the Purple Crayon” debuted with $6 million, falling short of expectations. The Sony Pictures release, starring Zachary Levi, was met with poor reviews but received a more favorable A- CinemaScore from audiences. The film cost about $40 million to produce.
Meanwhile, “Twisters,” the sequel to the 1996 disaster film, continued to perform well, holding the second spot with $22.7 million in its third weekend. Directed by Lee Isaac Chung and starring Glen Powell, Daisy Edgar-Jones, and Anthony Ramos, “Twisters” has earned $195.6 million domestically but has seen less success internationally.
Hollywood closed July with its strongest month in a year, thanks to the success of films like “Inside Out 2” and “Deadpool & Wolverine.” Despite some box office challenges earlier in the year, the industry saw its first $1 billion month since July 2023. However, reminders of tough times remained, with AMC Theatres posting a $32.8 million loss for the second quarter of 2024.
Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Comscore:
- “Deadpool & Wolverine,” $97 million
- “Twisters,” $22.7 million
- “Trap,” $15.6 million
- “Despicable Me 2,” $11.3 million
- “Inside Out 2,” $6.7 million
- “Harold and the Purple Crayon,” $6 million
- “Longlegs,” $4.1 million
- “A Quiet Place: Day One,” $1.4 million
- “Daaru Na Peenda Hove,” $615,782
- “Bad Boys: Ride or Die,” $600,000
Source: AP
