Marvel Studio's only cinematic offering of the year, Deadpool and Wolverine, is preparing to slice multiple records wide open in its debut weekend.

Jay Maidment / 20th Century Studios

FILM & TV

Deadpool and Wolverine: New Marvel Film Set for Record-Breaking Opening

Marvel Studio's only cinematic offering of the year, Deadpool and Wolverine, is preparing to slice multiple records wide open in its debut weekend.
Jay Maidment / 20th Century Studios

Marvel Studio’s only cinematic offering of the year, Deadpool and Wolverine, is preparing to slice multiple records wide open in its debut weekend.

Three weeks before the film’s release on July 26, The Hollywood Reporter revealed the box office tracking for Deadpool and Wolverine. Currently, the film is tracking to open to between 160 and 165 million dollars in the United States. However, the article emphasizes that there is plenty of room for the film to overperform beyond these numbers.

If the film manages to hit even these conservative numbers, several records will be broken. It would mark the largest opening of the year, eclipsing the opening weekend of Inside Out 2. In addition, it would be the highest opening for any R-rated film ever. This would be a welcome sign for not just Marvel Studios, but the superhero subgenre as a whole.

The previous two Deadpool films opened to 133 and 125 million dollars respectively. The first Deadpool film remains the largest R-rated opening to date. Because of various factors including the return of Wolverine, the third Deadpool film is poised to steal that record. In addition, it’s also set to be the first R-rated film to be released under both Disney and Marvel.

After the disappointing release of The Marvels in November, a release on this level would indicate a reversal of fortunes. After more than half a year without a release, audiences might be more eager to return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which justifies Marvel’s staggering of its releases. On top of that, Deadpool and Wolverine open on the same weekend as San Diego Comic Con, where Marvel is poised for another edition of their world-famous Hall H panel. The weekend of July 26 will chart a new course for Marvel Studios in the years to come.

Directed by Shawn Levy(Stranger Things), Deadpool and Wolverine marks the first film in the MCU to feature the X-men. Ryan Reynolds(Free Guy) stars as Deadpool alongside Hugh Jackman(The Greatest Showman) returning to his role as Wolverine. In addition, Emma Corrin(The Crown) stars as the villain Cassandra Nova, and Matthew MacFayden(Succession) will portray TVA Agent Paradox.

You can catch up on the first two Deadpool films on Disney+ here.