Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds in ‘Deadpool & Wolverine.’
Jay Maidment/20th Century Studios/MARVEL
After bemoaning the state of the 2024 box office, AMC Theatres chief Adam Aron finally has something to roar about.
Aron wrote on Wednesday that Ryan Reynolds-Hugh Jackman starrer Deadpool & Wolverine is off to super-sized start and set a new record for first-day advance ticket sales for the country’s largest movie circuits. Tickets went on sale Monday for the Marvel Studios sequel, which officially opens in North America on July 26 following previews on the evening of July 25.
“Some 200,000 movie fans have bought their AMC tickets already. This is more Day 1 ticket sales at AMC than for any other R-rated movie ever,” the colorful CEO wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Online ticketing service Fandango, which services a majority of movie circuits, also reported brisk first-day sales for Deadpool & Wolverine, saying they were the best of 2024 to date, as well as a franchise best and the best for an R-rated feature.
While neither Fandango nor AMC provided dollar figures, insiders tell The Hollywood Reporter that first day sales are likely around $8 million to $9 million if extrapolating the 200,000 stat cited by Aron.
None of the parties involved are officially commenting, but all signs indicate that Deadpool & Wolverine will cross $100 million in its debut, a feat no 2024 title has yet to achieve as domestic box office revenue slips 20 percent behind 2023 due in large part to production delays tied to the strikes (the industry mantra has become “survive to 25,” and one used frequently by Aron when addressing anxious investors).
2012’s Deadpool and 2018’s Deadpool 2 topped the list of biggest R-rated openers at $132.4 million and $125 million, respectively, not adjusted for inflation.
Directed this time out by Shawn Levy, Deadpool & Wolverine continues the irreverent superhero franchise that’s the brainchild of Reynolds, who helped persuade Jackman to once again don the Wolverine costume and star with him in the threequel.
Deadpool & Wolverine is the first R-rated movie ever released by Marvel and Disney.
