Marvel celebrates historic success with "Deadpool & Wolverine

Marvel Studios has made a spectacular comeback following a phase of disappointing box office results. Over the weekend, two of their most popular characters, Deadpool and Wolverine, joined forces on the big screen and drew audiences in droves. With ticket sales of around $200 million in the U.S. and Canada, the R-rated film shattered records. "Deadpool & Wolverine" surpassed the previous record-holder "Deadpool" (2016), which grossed about $175 million when adjusted for inflation. Internationally, the film also impressed, with an additional $225 million from overseas, totaling around $425 million worldwide in just three and a half days—comparable to the successful launch of "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness" in 2022. Directed by Shawn Levy, the film had a production and marketing budget of approximately $320 million. This success was urgently needed for Marvel after "The Marvels" and "Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania" disappointed at the box office last year. Wall Street responded harshly, leading to battles for seats on Disney's board. Ultimately, Disney managed to fend off activist investors. The global market for superhero films is becoming increasingly challenging. DC Studios is planning its fourth reorganization in eight years following the disappointing outcomes of "The Flash," "Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom," and "Blue Beetle." Sony is also struggling with "Spider-Man" spin-offs like "Madame Web" and "Morbius." According to film consultant David A. Gross, Marvel and DC urgently need to launch one or two new, successful series in the coming years to support the genre. Critics have complained that Marvel's plots are becoming increasingly convoluted, overwhelming casual viewers. However, "Deadpool & Wolverine" is primarily a love letter to Marvel fans. The audience rewarded this with an A rating in CinemaScore surveys and 97 percent positive reviews on RottenTomatoes.com—only "Spider-Man: No Way Home" has ever done better. To promote the film, Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman embarked on a major world tour, including stops in China, South Korea, Brazil, Germany, and the United Kingdom. Their public appearances were peppered with colorful language, making it clear that this film is not suitable for children. Disney CEO Robert A. Iger was comparatively reserved, describing the film on Instagram as "a blast." Disney Entertainment co-chairman Alan Bergman registered the company's third consecutive hit with this film. It marks an impressive turnaround after Disney stumbled last summer with "The Marvels," "Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny," and "Haunted Mansion." This year, in addition to "Deadpool & Wolverine," Disney has also enjoyed success with "Inside Out 2" and "Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes.