Marvel Studios have another big hit on their hands. Deadpool & Wolverine has passed the $1 billion mark. This makes it only the second R-rated movie to do that, and the first R-rated comedy to pass the magic figure.
2019’s Joker is still #1 at at $1.07 billion, but Deadpool & Wolverine is looking likely to pass that any day now. The latest MCU entry stands after the weekend at $494.3 million domestic and $535.1 million international for a total of $1.03.
Disney now has the only two movies to pass $1 billion so far this year, the first being Pixar’s Inside Out 2.
Most importantly, there is a MASSIVE lesson for Marvel here. Everybody knows that Phase 4 and Phase 5, basically everything post-Endgame, struggled with the exception of Sony’s co-production Spider-Man: No Way Home.
Marvel spent the last few years since Endgame seemingly trying to cravenly appeal to anyone except for core comic book movie fans, pushing girl power and identity politics over well-loved characters having thrilling adventures. Seeking out new audiences where it was obvious to many that one did not exist. Deadpool & Wolverine sets out to do nothing more than cater firmly to its fanbase, giving them exactly what they want. Now look at it go!
Ryan Reynold’s domination of the box office was challenged hard this weekend, from inside his own household. His wife, Blake Lively, has a new movie out. and It Ends With Us pulled in $50 million domestically and $30 million internationally for second place.
The expected flop did indeed flop, with Borderlands pulling in just $8.8 million domestically and $7.7 million internationally against a $115 million budget and $30 million additional marketing.