‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ sets new records in North American theatres

DISNEY/MARVEL superhero comedy Deadpool & Wolverine continued on a record-setting pace over the weekend in North American theatres, clawing its way to an imposing US$97 million in ticket sales, industry watcher Exhibitor Relations said on Sunday (Aug 3).

That brings its domestic total to US$395.6 million – for the eighth best second weekend ever, Variety reported – while international ticket sales were even more impressive, at US$428 million.

Buoyed by the popularity of Ryan Reynolds (Deadpool), and his pal Hugh Jackman (Wolverine), the movie has already set a new record for the highest domestic gross for an R-rated feature, a distinction held since 2004 by Mel Gibson’s epic drama The Passion of the Christ (US$370 million, not inflation-adjusted).

Universal’s weather thriller Twisters held tight in second place, taking in US$22.7 million for the Friday-through-Sunday period. Glen Powell and Daisy Edgar-Jones play storm chasers caught in the middle of fast-converging tornadoes.

In third was Warner Bros’ new film Trap, at US$15.6 million. Analyst David Gross called that “a soft opening for an M Night Shyamalan suspense crime thriller”, adding that reviews and audience scores have been “lukewarm”.

Josh Hartnett stars as a serial killer avoiding police while at a concert with his daughter. Trap was largely self-financed by Shyamalan, whose 1999 blockbuster The Sixth Sense grossed US$673 million.

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Slipping one spot to fourth place was Universal animation Despicable Me 4, at US$11.3 million. It has now taken in a total US$314 million domestically and US$386 million internationally.

And in fifth, also down one spot, was Disney’s coming-of-age animation Inside Out 2, at US$6.7 million. With a domestic gross of US$627 million and an overseas total of US$928 million, it is now well past the US$1.5 billion mark and stands as the top animated film of all time, according to Hollywood Reporter.

Rounding out the top 10 were:

• Harold and the Purple Crayon (US$6 million)
• Longlegs (US$4.1 million)
• A Quiet Place: Day One (US$1.4 million)
• The Firing Squad (US$925,000)
• Daaru Na Peenda Hove (US$625,000).