Deadpool has been out less than 24 hours, and it is already shattering records and is setting its sights on having a huge opening weekend. The film has already outperformed what critics were expecting, and the 'Merc with a Mouth' is not slowing down one bit.
Was their any doubt in your minds? Deadpool has been everywhere, from viral marketing to television and games. With a huge comic fan base, and amazing reviews coming from everyone, everywhere, Deadpool will definitely break records this weekend. If you have not attempted to get your tickets yet, you might be out of luck. As of noon today, every showing at the Alamo Drafthouses in my area were almost sold out.
Deadpool opened last night with early showings that were packed to the nines, setting records for an R-rated Thursday night preview and a February preview! The film grossed $12.7M on Thurdays night, beating out Fifty Shades of Grey, who previously held the record with $8.6M in the same slot last year. Deadpool is slaying Zoolander 2 (23% on Rotten Tomatoes) which only managed $750,000 on Thursday night.
Earlier estimates had Deadpool sitting at $60-80M for the weekend, putting it pretty even with other big R-rated comic book films like Watchmen ($55M) and 300 ($71M). These are not meager numbers to boast at all, but according to THR, the film is tracking to hit $35M on Friday alone. This will put the film closer to the $90-100M mark over the Valentine's Day/President's Day weekend.
Up until a few hours ago, four-day estimates for "Deadpool" over the holiday weekend hovered anywhere between $60-80 million depending upon whom you ask. Putting it in line with other R-rated comic book openings like "300" ($71M) and "Watchmen" ($55M).
That has been shattered however as THR has just reported that the film is on course to gross over $35 million for Friday alone, and closer to $90 million or even $100 million over the long Valentine's Day & Presidents Day weekend. These are numbers held by other highly successful comic book films such as Guardians of the Galaxy and Captain America: The Winter Soldier.
