Deadpool & Wolverine, the new superhero film from Marvel Studios that brings to life one of the comic book world’s most famous (or infamous) team-ups, is officially the number one movie in the world following its release in U.S. theaters on July 26, according to a recent celebratory tweet from Australian actor and Wolverine star Hugh Jackman, one that recreates the iconic “Wolverine Crush” meme in which the leading X-Man gazes jealously at a picture frame with what was originally Jean Grey and Cyclops, as seen in the “Captive Hearts” episode of the classic animated series on Fox. Jackman’s knowledge of memes comes as the movie, which serves as a eulogy of sorts for what was 20th Century Fox’s superhero universe, continues to achieve new box office records, including highest-R-rated opening of all time, overtaking Joker.
Deadpool & Wolverine’s records now include, per a report:
- “Highest R-rated opening of all time both worldwide and domestic: At $444.1M worldwide and $211M domestic, Deadpool & Wolverine beats previous record holder Deadpool from 2016 ($264M WW in like-for-like markets excluding China, $132.4M domestic).”
- “Biggest global opening since Avatar: The Way of Water ($439M in like-for-like markets at current rates).
- “Biggest Domestic Opening Ever for Ryan Reynolds beating Deadpool‘s $132.4M.”
- “Biggest Domestic Opening Ever for Hugh Jackman beating 2006’s X-Men: The Last Stand‘s $102.7M.”
- “Biggest Domestic Opening Ever for filmmaker Shawn Levy beating 2009’s Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian at $54.1M.”
- “Highest July opening weekend of all-time at domestic box office, surpassing The Lion King ($191.8M).”
- “Marvel Cinematic Universe is the highest-grossing film franchise of all time with $30 billion spanning 34 titles.”
- “The 34th consecutive MCU release to debut at No. 1 at the domestic box office.“
- “Highest domestic opening weekend of 2024 and highest since Spider-Man: No Way Home in December 2021 ($260.1M).”
- “No. 6 highest domestic opening weekend of all time.“
- “6th Highest Opening Day at the Domestic Box Office at $96M.”
- “No. 4 highest superhero opening weekend of all time (behind Avengers: Endgame, Spider-Man: No Way Home and Avengers: Infinity War).”
- “No. 2 highest opening weekend for a third instalment of all time (behind Avengers: Endgame).”
- “As of this post, Walt Disney is responsible for 16 of the top 20 opening domestic weekends of all time – with the MCU responsible for 11 of the top 20.”
- “Walt Disney also owns five of the top six opening weekends of all-time at the domestic box office.“
- “Highest opening weekend ever for a U.S. R-rated release with $233.1M international, surpassing Joker ($147M) on a like-for-like basis at current rates.”
- “Highest opening weekend abroad since Avatar: The Way of Water, surpassing Inside Out 2 ($223M) on a like-for-like basis at current rates.”
- “Highest opening weekend of 2024 in Germany, UK, Australia and Japan (non-local) as well as many smaller markets.“
Jackman’s interpretation of the “Wolverine Crush” meme:
Wolverine and Deadpool is the #1 movie in the world. Thank you ALL! @VancityReynolds @ShawnLevyDirect @MarvStudios pic.twitter.com/FhdspNeWcR
— Hugh Jackman (@RealHughJackman) July 28, 2024
Some trailers for the film:
Marvel on one reason why the film turned out well:
Deadpool and Wolverine may not always get along on screen, but in real life, Reynolds, Jackman, and Levy are fast friends, with Jackman referring to them as the “Three Amigos.” (Levy previously directed Jackman in 2011’s Real Steel and Reynolds in 2021’s Free Guy and 2022’s The Adam Project.) Together, they leaned into that camaraderie on set, pitching goofy jokes and improvising between takes.