Disney and Marvel Studios have officially entered historic territory as their film “Deadpool & Wolverine” becomes the second R-rated movie to surpass $1 billion in global box office revenue, joining “Joker.” This remarkable achievement was reached in just three weekends, with the film pulling in a robust $54 million domestically this weekend alone, bringing its North American total to $494 million and an estimated $535 million from international markets.
With a combined global gross of $1.02 billion, Disney now holds the distinction of being the first studio to have consecutive releases reach the $1 billion mark, following Pixar’s “Inside Out 2,” which crossed that threshold last month and is projected to exceed $1.6 billion soon.
Industry insiders predict that “Deadpool & Wolverine” is on track to reach at least $1.4 billion in global earnings, potentially outpacing unadjusted box office giants such as “Star Wars: The Last Jedi,” “Black Panther,” “The Super Mario Bros. Movie,” and “Avengers: Age of Ultron.” Additionally, it is expected to surpass “Joker” and its $1.07 billion global total to claim the title of the highest-grossing R-rated film of all time in the coming days.
This success marks a significant rebound for Disney, which had experienced a challenging period at the box office over the past nine months. Films like “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny” struggled to recoup their substantial budgets, while others such as “The Marvels” and “Wish” failed to make a significant impact during a time when the industry was in dire need of strong blockbuster performances.
However, the tide began to turn with the release of “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes,” a modest hit for Disney and 20th Century Studios in May. Then came Pixar’s “Inside Out 2,” which broke through the box office drought, becoming one of the top 10 highest-grossing films of all time with $1.55 billion in earnings.
“Deadpool & Wolverine” has shattered records for R-rated films, driven by Ryan Reynolds’ relentless efforts to transform Deadpool’s irreverent, fourth-wall-breaking humor into a cultural phenomenon, backed by his unique charisma.
Why Deadpool & Wolverine Crossed 1 Billion Mark
The formula that pushed the “Deadpool” trilogy to achieve the top three R-rated opening weekends has now been combined with the potent force of nostalgia. Just as the return of Tobey Maguire, Andrew Garfield, and other former “Spider-Man” stars helped “Spider-Man: No Way Home” become the first billion-dollar hit of the 2020s, the comeback of Hugh Jackman as Wolverine, along with surprise cameos from Marvel characters acquired in Disney’s 2019 20th Century Fox merger, made “Deadpool & Wolverine” a must-see for both dedicated and casual fans.
Now, the question is whether Marvel Studios can leverage this success to restore the goodwill that made it the dominant force in Hollywood during the 2010s. This reputation has waned in recent years following a series of unevenly received films after the highly praised “Avengers: Endgame.”
The studio also faced a major setback when it had to drop key elements of its ongoing storylines after Jonathan Majors, who was set to play the multiverse villain Kang in upcoming “Avengers” films, was fired following his conviction for reckless assault and harassment last December.
At San Diego Comic-Con, Marvel unveiled the new direction for the MCU, announcing that “Avengers: The Kang Dynasty” would be retitled “Avengers: Doomsday.” In a major shift, Robert Downey Jr., now an Oscar winner, will return to portray the villainous Doctor Victor von Doom. The upcoming films “The Fantastic 4: First Steps” and “Thunderbolts,” both slated for release next year, will serve as lead-ins to “Doomsday,” which is set to hit theaters in April 2026.
Marvel Studios also released a video celebrating their billion-dollar milestone, which you can watch below: