Everyone anticipated that Deadpool & Wolverine would be a major hit, but it has quickly become one of Disney’s crowning achievements. Over the weekend, the film soared past the $1 billion mark at the global box office, making it only the second R-rated movie in history to reach this milestone.
Furthermore, in the list of its achievements, it not only set a new record for the highest opening of any film released in 2024 but also achieved the biggest debut for an R-rated film ever. This impressive achievement has set a high bar for big-budget movies, leaving movies like The Marvels with a lot to learn.
How Deadpool & Wolverine Became a Major Win for Disney
Rob Liefeld, the creator of Deadpool, took to X to celebrate the film’s impressive impact on Disney’s stocks. While Ryan Reynolds’ Deadpool & Wolverine have been a triumph for Marvel, earning praise and rave reviews, they’ve also delivered a major win for Disney. The film’s stellar box office performance comes as Disney wraps up its D23 Expo, which saw plenty of exciting updates. All in all, a good time to be Disney for sure.
Deadpool & Wolverine is moving the stock prices. My friends at Disney, not Marvel, DISNEY, gush over the big bump. This is Marvel’s best performing film in 5 years. Gentle reminder that Spider Man is Sony’s box office.
— robliefeld (@robertliefeld) August 14, 2024
This success comes at a crucial time for Disney, which recently reported third-quarter results amidst a challenging period with its stock down 12% over the past month. Currently trading at $88.69, Disney’s stock has fluctuated between $78.73 and $123.74 over the past year and is up 2.91% from its opening price as of writing this today as per Yahoo.
Despite these ups and downs, Deadpool & Wolverine offer a sparkling bright spot in Disney’s recent financial landscape.
As per The Hollywood Reporter, the movie crossed $1 billion at the global box office, becoming only the second R-rated film to achieve this milestone. This makes it Disney’s second billion-dollar film of the year, following Pixar’s Inside Out 2, which has grossed over $1.5 billion since June. With Moana 2 set to release later this year, analysts predict Disney might see even more box-office hits this year.
Lessons from The Marvels, What Deadpool & Wolverine Got Right!
In stark contrast, The Marvels has faced major box office struggles and people are now understanding exactly how and why. With a total gross of $219.8 million, it has become the lowest-grossing film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, falling short of The Incredible Hulk’s $264 million in 2008. Domestically, it has earned just $80 million, making it the only MCU film to fail to reach $100 million in domestic revenue, lagging over $50 million behind The Incredible Hulk.
The film also set a record for the largest drop in MCU history, with a 78% plunge in ticket sales during its second weekend. Its struggles are further underscored by its $220 million production budget, making it the only MCU film not to surpass its production costs, a feat most MCU films achieve easily.
What makes The Marvels a cautionary tale is its departure from the emotionally grounded and character-driven approach that Deadpool & Wolverine took. Instead of focusing on compelling, personal stories, The Marvels opted for a grand, intergalactic team-up that felt overwhelming and unfocused.
This shift led to the film becoming one of the lowest-grossing entries in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, struggling to break even against its substantial budget. Its failure for sure highlights the risks of prioritizing spectacle over substance, showing how important it is for blockbuster films to maintain emotional depth and strong character connections.
Deadpool & Wolverine is playing in theaters.
