Deadpool & Wolverine: A box office phenomenon
Deadpool & Wolverine has achieved a remarkable milestone, surpassing $600 million in domestic ticket sales. This feat places it among an elite group of only 16 films in history to reach such heights. The Marvel superhero sequel, starring Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman, continues to dominate the box office, even during typically slow periods like the Labor Day weekend.
A Labor Day triumph
Despite the traditionally sluggish Labor Day weekend, Deadpool & Wolverine managed to pull in $15.2 million over the weekend and an estimated $19.5 million from 3,630 theaters through Monday. This marks the film’s sixth weekend in theaters, where it has claimed the No. 1 spot for five out of the past six weekends. With $603.8 million in North America and $1.25 billion globally, it stands as the second highest-grossing movie of the year.
The state of the summer box office
Labor Day isn’t typically a big draw for moviegoers, and this year was no exception. The summer season ended with domestic revenues down 14.3% from 2023 and 26.6% from 2019, the last pre-COVID year. Despite this, the summer saw a string of hits in June and July, making it a comeback season of sorts.
New releases struggle to make an impact
Several new movies opened nationwide over the weekend, but only one managed to crack the top five. Reagan, a biopic led by Dennis Quaid, opened in fourth place with $7.4 million over the weekend and an estimated $9.2 million from 2,754 theaters through Monday. Despite poor reviews from critics, audiences seemed to enjoy it, giving it an “A” on CinemaScore.
Reagan is directed by Sean McNamara and adapted from Paul Kengor’s book, “The Crusader: Ronald Reagan and the Fall of Communism.” The film explores Reagan’s life through a conversation between a former KGB agent and a Russian politician. ShowBiz Direct, an independent distributor, is behind the release.
Other notable releases
Afraid, a sci-fi horror story about a revolutionary smart home AI, landed in ninth place with $3.7 million over the weekend and an estimated $4.4 million from 3,003 theaters through Monday. Directed by Chris Weitz and starring John Cho and Katherine Waterston, the film received lukewarm reviews from both critics and audiences.
1992, a crime thriller starring Tyrese Gibson and Scott Eastwood, opened at No. 14 with $1.3 million over the weekend and an estimated $1.65 million from 875 theaters through Monday. The film revolves around a shopkeeper who must save his son during the Los Angeles uprising after the Rodney King verdict.
City of Dreams, a drama about human trafficking, debuted in 19th place with $760,000 over the weekend and an estimated $990,000 from 770 screens through Monday. Directed by Mohit Ramchandani, the film tells the story of a young Mexican farmer who is sold to a sweatshop in L.A. under the guise of soccer training.
Interestingly, the filmmakers and John Devaney, founder of United Capital and Manor House Films, gave away $1 million in free tickets to various groups, including anti-trafficking organizations and schools.
Holdovers continue to perform
Several holdover titles also made a significant impact over the weekend. Alien: Romulus, the latest chapter in Disney and 20th Century’s sci-fi horror saga, added $9.3 million over the weekend and an estimated $11.5 million from 3,120 venues in its third frame. The film has collected $91 million domestically and $283.5 million worldwide.
It Ends With Us, an adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s best-selling novel, remained at No. 3, bringing in $7.4 million over the weekend and an estimated $9.5 million from 3,551 locations through Monday. After four weekends, it has amassed $135.8 million in North America and over $240 million globally.
Twisters, Universal’s storm-centric sequel, took fifth place with $7.1 million over the weekend and an estimated $8.7 million from 3,005 theaters through Monday. Starring Daisy Edgar-Jones, Glen Powell, and Anthony Ramos, the film has grossed $259.6 million domestically and $351 million worldwide after seven weeks.
Final thoughts
The box office landscape continues to evolve, with Deadpool & Wolverine leading the charge. Despite a slow Labor Day weekend, the film’s success highlights the enduring appeal of superhero movies. As new releases struggle to make an impact, holdover titles like Alien: Romulus, It Ends With Us, and Twisters continue to draw audiences. The coming weeks will reveal whether these trends persist or if new contenders will emerge to shake up the box office.
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