“The Marvels” is closing in on a record box office gross for Marvel – The Hollywood Reporter
Three weeks ago, The wonders pursued The film is expected to gross $75 million to $80 million at the domestic box office. While it’s not a huge amount for a title in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it was a respectable number.
Now, however, the female-led superhero film could only gross $60 million to $65 million, which would mark one of the lowest starts ever for Kevin Feige’s legendary Marvel Studios (and probably the lowest if you adjust for inflation). And at least one service, The Quorum, is predicting more than $60 million.
The 33rd installment of the Marvel Cinematic Universe is a sequel to the 2019 Brie Larson-starrer Captain Marvel, which opened with $153.4 million in North America on its way to a massive $1.13 billion worldwide, not adjusted for inflation. The clear advantage of this film was that it was teased in the post-credit scene in 2018 Avengers: Infinity Warwhile its 2019 cover star was a player Avengers: Endgame (it was released between the two Marvel mega-blockbusters).
But those were different times. The cast of The wonders was unable to advertise or advertise due to the ongoing actors’ strike. Last week, with a deal looming, Marvel and Disney even made tentative plans to bring Larson and the cast to the film’s premiere at the Sphere in Las Vegas, according to insiders.
Another challenge The Marvels is superhero fatigue. This summer, DC’s The Lightning — which had been heralded as a triumph by Warner Bros. executives before its opening — initially grossed a dismal $55 million domestically and peaked at a paltry $270.6 million domestically. One major exception to this idea of tiredness was Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, directed by James Gunn, who now runs DC. The threequel debuted at $106 million domestically earlier this year and grossed $845.6 million worldwide, just behind the second film ($863.7 million).
Interest in seeing The wonders has fallen steadily since tracking firms first reported their opening estimates, while advance ticket sales remain at the same level The Lightning. This is a nightmare scenario for any studio. Marvel and parent company Disney responded by optimizing their marketing campaign. In an unusual move, they released a new trailer on the eve of the film’s premiere that emphasized its connection to the bigger picture avenger franchise and revealed Tessa Thompson’s fan favorite Thor Character Valkyrie appears.
In the new film, Larson is joined by Iman Vellani, the breakout star of the Disney+ series Ms. Marvelas well as Teyonah Parris as an adult version of Captain Marvel Character Monica Rambeau. The actress made her Marvel debut with WandaVisionwhat mattered The wonders Screenwriter Megan McDonnell is one of its authors.
The wonders is unique in that it features three female leads. It was directed by Nia DaCosta, the first Black woman to direct a Marvel Studios film and the youngest director of an MCU film (DaCosta turns 34 on November 8). Marvel is proud to support indie directors like Ryan Coogler, Taika Waititi and Chloé Zhao.
Until today, 2008 The incredible Hulk holds the record for the lowest domestic opening of any MCU title with $55.4 million, not adjusted for inflation (Marvel, which was not owned by Disney at the time, partnered with Universal Hulk).
The next lowest MCU opening belongs to Marvel/Disney Ant-manwhich opened in 2015 with $57.2 million domestically.
Overseas, The wonders is aiming to open to $60 million, giving it a worldwide launch of $140 million, compared to nearly $190 million for Captain Marvel.
