The irreverent film is shattering all expectations and making life tough for anything in its path, including 'Zoolander 2' and 'How to Be Single,' at the long Valentine's Day/Presidents Day weekend after grabbing an A CinemaScore.
It's summertime in February at the North American box office.
Ryan Reynolds' Deadpool earned a record $47.5 million on Friday, putting in course for an estimated three-day gross of $117 million and a stunning four-day haul of $130 million over the long Valentine's Day/Presidents Day weekend — among the top 10 comic book openings of all time and the biggest ever for an R-rated title. (Only 10 superhero movies have crossed $100 million in any given three-day weekend.)
Deadpool is a sizeable victory for Reynolds and Fox, who spent 11 years debating whether to make the irreverent movie, since it's one of the rare Marvel comic book movies to be rated R. Heading into the holiday weekend, tracking had suggested it would open to $65 million or $70 million over the long holiday weekend. But estimates kept being revised upwards on Friday as grosses poured.
Fox made Deadpool with Marvel Enterprises via its licensing deals for the X-Men universe of characters, and, along with Reynolds, spent months aggressively marketing the movie. The net budget is $58 million, a modest number for a major studio superhero title. Deadpool is playing in 3,558 theaters, including Imax locations.
Deadpool will easily claim the top Presidents Day opening of all time, blowing away the $94 million earned last year by Fifty Shades of Grey over the four-day weekend, as well as the top February launch in history. Friday's tally — the biggest ever for February — included $12.7 million in Thursday night previews, a record for an R-rated film, as well as for the month.
A passion project for Reynolds, the irreverent, tongue-in-cheek movie follows Wade Wilson (aka Deadpool), a foul-mouthed, witty mercenary who was bestowed with special powers after undergoing an experimental treatment for cancer. The actor first appeared as the character in X-Men Origins: Wolverine. In Deadpool — which is outpacing the openings of all previous X-Men films — the superhero seeks revenge against those who subjected him to the treatment.
In terms of comic book openings, Deadpool looks to share rarefied air and place No. 8 behind the two The Avengers movies, Iron Man 3, the last two Dark Knight films, Spider-Man 3 and Iron Man 2. Those it stands to beat include Man of Steel, Spider-Man, X-Men: The Last Stand, Iron Man, Guardians of the Galaxy and Captain America: The Winter Soldier.
All of those were rated PG-13. Deadpool's rating is considered a "hard" R, and theaters across the country will likely be monitoring ticket buyers to make sure those under 17 years of age unaccompanied by a parent or adult guardian don't gain entry to the film, since teenagers are in the habit of seeing Marvel superhero movies on their own.
Reynolds' film received an A CinemaScore from all age groups. And 92 percent said they would recommend it to a friend, while 76 percent checked off the excellent box, according to comScore's PostTrak exit polling service.
Deadpool is also off to an impressive start overseas, where it could earn north of $80 million for the weekend. Directed by Tim Miller, the movie also stars Morena Baccarin, Ed Skrein, T.J. Miller and Gina Carano.
At these numbers, Deadpool is no doubt making life tough for the other two holiday offerings, Zoolander 2 and How to Be Single.
How to Be Single, an R-rated romantic comedy, stars Dakota Johnson, Rebel Wilson, Alison Brie and Leslie Mann. The New Line and MGM film is pacing to open to $18 million - $19 million from 3,343 theaters for the three days and $21 million for the weekend. That's in line with Warners' hopes for the movie heading into the holiday weekend, although earlier on Friday, the female-skewing film was pacing to open closer to $25 million.
Now in its third weekend, Kung Fu Panda 3 looks to beat How to Be Single and come in No. 2 with $25 million for the four days, pushing its domestic to roughly $100 million through Monday.
From Paramount, Zoolander 2, reuniting Ben Stiller, Owen Wilson and Will Ferrell, is expected to open in the $16 million to $18 million range from 3,394 theaters for the four days, a disappointing start. The sequel, costing a little more than $50 million to make, is rated PG-13. Paramount had hoped for a four-day gross north of $25 million.
At this rate, Zoolander 2 will come in No. 4, while Star Wars: The Force Awakens will round out the top five.
Good #s. Also shows there's still plenty of dumb parents out there.
I saw a kid that looked like he was about 7 or 8 yesterday in my screening. None of my business, I'm just happy that he being there with his dad contributed to the BO earnings of the film
This was made on $58 million which is a nothing budget. Joy, which is all talk, has a $60 million production budget. Deadpool is a HUGE win for Fox with a record haul for a Feb Friday of $41 million . Deadpool's initial weekend is assured to be a Feb record and it has a change at $300 million domestic.
The sequel will be VERY well funded .
More success & cash to the X-Men Cinematic Franchise, the real deal. Eat your hat, Marvel/Disney!!!!!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Blu-Benny
this movie was everything I ever dared to hope for......and more!!!
they absolutely nailed the character in every way.
the opening montage was fantastic.
couldn't be happier!!!
5/5 from this guy!!
......maybe Keira Knightly......she has range.
I'm glad. You're a huge fan, so your words matter.
Going to see this Monday, early afternoon - too many idiots bringing kids/babies this wk-end from what I'm reading, lol. Hopefully, there won't be any issues at my showing.
I've just discovered that I was born EXACTLY one year after Ryan Reynolds... 24th October, 1977. He was born on 23th October, 1976.
This is cool, guys. It was written in the stars.
I've just discovered that I was born EXACTLY one year after Ryan Reynolds... 24th October, 1977. He was born on 23th October, 1976.
This is cool, guys. It was written in the stars.
That's actually a year and a day....the stars were wrong
Just got back from this, didn't find it as funny as some people have said but from the way it was marketed I didn't quite expect the story and characters to be so strong, I actually really enjoyed the whole origin story aspect of this one. Can't remember the last time I said that about any superhero movie.
All countries
Argentina
Austria
Belgium
Brazil
Bulgaria
Chile
China
Colombia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Estonia
Denmark
Finland
Greece
Hong Kong
Hungary
Iceland
Indonesia
Ireland
Israel
India
Latvia
Lithuania
Malaysia
New Zealand
Norway
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Russia
Singapore
South Africa
South Korea
Sweden
Switzerland
Taiwan
Thailand
Turkey
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
Bison Burgers 
at Montana Teds then Deadpool with my kid; sounds like a great Saturday night to me! 
. Deadpool's initial weekend is assured to be a Feb record and it has a change at $300 million domestic.
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