MOVIE NEWS – In a move that surprises absolutely no one, Deadpool & Wolverine has shattered yet another record, crossing the $1 billion mark at the global box office. With Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman reprising their iconic roles, the new film, directed by Shawn Levy, marks the MCU’s first foray into R-rated territory. Dominating the box office for three consecutive weeks, Deadpool & Wolverine outperformed Blake Lively’s It Ends With Us. The movie has already set numerous records and is poised to break yet another.

Having just surpassed the $1 billion milestone, Deadpool & Wolverine is now gunning for the title of the highest-grossing R-rated movie of all time, a title currently held by Todd Phillips’ Joker, which grossed $1.078 billion during its theatrical run. The film has become a significant critical and commercial victory for Marvel Studios, solidifying the franchise’s future. Alongside its box office triumph, Deadpool & Wolverine has garnered strong reviews, boasting an 85% critic score and a 90% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.

What Deadpool & Wolverine’s Success Means for the MCU

Beyond giving Marvel Studios’ president Kevin Feige a massive win, Deadpool & Wolverine’s success will likely have a lasting impact on the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The tremendous box office success of an R-rated MCU film signals that more such movies may be on the horizon. Marvel had previously announced that Mahershala Ali’s Blade would also be rated R (assuming it gets released), but the studio is now more likely to embrace darker, more mature themes in its future projects.

The success of Deadpool & Wolverine also carries significant implications for Marvel Studios’ release strategy. Reflecting on past missteps, Marvel previously stated it would slow down its release schedule. With Deadpool & Wolverine being the only MCU release this year, it has breathed new life into the franchise. Moving forward, Marvel Studios may continue this trend. However, due to last year’s strikes, it’s unlikely that the studio will reduce its output as drastically as it did this year. By 2025, Marvel is set to release two movies and two Disney+ shows: Captain America: Brave New World, the highly anticipated Daredevil: Born Again reboot, Thunderbolts, and the long-awaited Ironheart series.

While Marvel fans are thrilled to see the franchise return to form, Marvel Studios must learn the right lessons from Deadpool & Wolverine’s success. There is a risk that the studio might misinterpret what made the film so beloved. Some fans are already concerned that recasting Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom in Avengers: Doomsday indicates Marvel is relying too heavily on nostalgia, a tactic heavily used in Deadpool & Wolverine.

Source: MovieWeb