Record-breaking Deadpool & Wolverine defies industry trends

In recent years, the average age of people going to the cinema has dropped significantly since the pandemic. Therefore, each movie's success in targeting an older audience is doubly pleasing. Last year, "Oppenheimer" became a huge hit, and this season, it’s "Deadpool & Wolverine," which is already the highest-grossing R-rated film in history.

"Deadpool & Wolverine" is undoubtedly one of the most brutal comic book adaptations. The humour, jokes, and language often tend to be vulgar and, above all, politically incorrect, which is exceptionally rare in today's film productions, whether Hollywood or European, theatrical or streaming.

From the beginning, the comic series "Deadpool" went against contemporary trends, which brought it astounding success. In an era where significant studios primarily seek to attract children and teenage viewers, a film was created whose audience mainly consists of people over the age of 25 (data from the USA). In the United States, the film received an R-rating, which means that people under 17 can only watch it under the supervision of an adult guardian.

Let's recall that a week ago, "Deadpool & Wolverine" earned $211.4 (CAD 293) million during its opening weekend in the United States, making it the 6th best opening in history. In its second week, the comic book adaptation is also performing excellently. Earnings in the USA reached $97 (CAD 134.5) million (after only a 53% drop in popularity), the 8th-best second-week result in history. Notably, "Deadpool & Wolverine" earned more money overseas during its second weekend than last year's number one, "Barbie" -$93 (CAD 129) million.

In this way, the film starring Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman has grossed $395 (CAD 548) million in the United States. Already – in just 10 days of its release – "Deadpool & Wolverine" has earned the title of the highest-grossing adult film in history. After 20 years, a movie has finally dethroned "The Passion." In 2004, the controversial production earned $370.7 million. For a long time, no R-rated title could even come close to the result of the famous Mel Gibson film. Last year, the Oscar-winning "Oppenheimer" was the first to do so (earning $329.9 [CAD 458] million).

"Deadpool & Wolverine" is selling spectacularly not only in the United States, where viewers love comic book adaptations. Outside the USA, the film has grossed over $400 (CAD 555) million, and after 10 days, worldwide earnings have already reached $824 million (CAD 1.1 billion).