Deadpool & Wolverine has set a new record as the largest R-rated global box office opening ever, amassing a staggering US$438.3 million worldwide. In North America, it secured the eighth-biggest opening weekend with US$205 million in ticket sales. This landmark achievement not only marks the biggest R-rated debut domestically and globally, surpassing previous records set by Deadpool and Joker, but also stands as the biggest worldwide and international opening of the year.
In addition to setting a new benchmark for R-rated films, Deadpool & Wolverine is now the top film in the box office since 2022’s Avatar: The Way of Water for the opening weekend. The success has propelled the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) past the US$30 billion mark globally, solidifying its position as the highest-grossing film franchise of all time.
Internationally, the film, starring Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman, dominated as the number one non-local movie in every market. The film’s release, which includes China for the first time — market where the first was banned and the sequel heavily edited for a PG rating — was 56% ahead of Deadpool and 50% above Deadpool 2. It also surpassed Joker by 37%.
In the U.S., Deadpool & Wolverine surpassed Black Panther’s US$202 million opening, nearly overtaking The Avengers’ US$207 million and Jurassic World’s US$208 million. It achieved the highest July opening weekend ever, overtaking 2019’s The Lion King, and scored the biggest opening since 2021’s Spider-Man: No Way Home. It also marked the second-largest opening for a third instalment, behind only Avengers: Endgame.
In the European market, the film grossed US$94.5 million, achieving the best start ever for a U.S. R-rated movie in the region and becoming the fourth-best launch of a superhero movie of all time. In Asia-Pacific, excluding China, the film garnered US$60.1 million. In China, it opened with an estimated US$24 million.
Latin America saw impressive numbers as well, with Deadpool & Wolverine grossing US$54.7 million and achieving a 75% market share across the region. It had the second highest opening weekend of 2024 in every market except Peru, where it ranked highest.
In Singapore, Deadpool & Wolverine topped the 2024 opening weekend box office with S$2.2 million, surpassing Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, Inside Out 2, and Kung Fu Panda 4, and became the only film to cross S$2 million in its debut weekend. Additionally, it achieved the highest post-pandemic opening weekend for M18-rated titles.
The top 10 opening markets were China (US$24 million), the UK (US$22.1 million), Mexico (US$18.7 million), Australia (US$13 million), Germany (US$10 million), Brazil (US$10 million), India (US$10 million), France (US$9.4 million), Korea (US$8.3 million), and Italy (US$7.5 million).
The film also significantly impacted IMAX theatres, pulling in a global haul of US$36.5 million — the eighth biggest for the format ever and the best for July and for an R-rated title. The international IMAX gross of US$17.4 million included records in eight markets for their biggest IMAX opening weekend ever.
Natalie is a big fan of anything related to movies, TV shows, games, and comics — you name it. When she’s not reading or geeking out about the latest shows on Netflix, she’s probably playing gacha and tabletop games, or daydreaming of meeting her idols.
