Photo credit: The Walt Disney Company

It was a record-breaking weekend for Marvel Studios’ highly anticipated film, *Deadpool & Wolverine*. The action-packed movie, featuring Ryan Reynolds' chatty Deadpool and Hugh Jackman's iconic Wolverine, soared to new heights, raking in an estimated $444.1 million globally, with $211 million of that coming from domestic earnings alone.

This remarkable performance has earned *Deadpool & Wolverine* the title of the highest-grossing global opening for an R-rated film in box office history, surpassing the previous record set by *Deadpool* in 2016. Domestically, the film's debut ranks as the 6th highest-grossing opening of all time and marks the highest July opening weekend ever, outshining 2019’s *The Lion King*. Additionally, it stands as the biggest opening since 2021’s *Spider-Man: No Way Home* and the second-largest opening for a third installment, trailing only behind 2019’s *Avengers: Endgame*.

The Walt Disney Company, which has dominated the box office this year with top titles in May (*Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes*), June (*Inside Out 2*), and July (*Deadpool & Wolverine*), now holds 5 of the top 6 opening weekends of all time.

As one of the most eagerly awaited films of the year, *Deadpool & Wolverine* has delivered on its promises, earning acclaim from both critics and audiences. The film boasts an “A” CinemaScore, is Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes, and holds a stellar audience score of 97%. Director Shawn Levy, who also contributed as a writer and producer, promised fans an action-packed and hilarious experience, with an added layer of warmth that highlights the unlikely friendship between the two characters.

“I know people are expecting the funny; they’re going to get it. They’re expecting the action; they’re going to get it,” Levy said. “But the movie has a warmth as a result of the story we tell between these two guys where this unlikely friendship is built. That’s the piece I think people aren’t expecting.”

Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige praised the film’s success, emphasizing that a great movie is the key to strengthening any cinematic universe. “Nothing strengthens the Marvel Cinematic Universe or perhaps any cinematic universe like a great movie,” Feige noted. “A great movie is the answer to many cinematic universe issues, and Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman and our director, Shawn Levy, have made a great movie.”

The excitement doesn’t stop with the film’s release. Starting Friday, fans can meet Deadpool and Wolverine at Avengers Campus in Disney California Adventure Park for a limited time. Deadpool will also make appearances at Disneyland Paris, showcasing Disney’s unique ability to bring beloved characters and stories to life in ways only they can.