“Deadpool & Wolverine” Will Save the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU)?

On July 22, the global premiere of “Deadpool & Wolverine” took place in New York, USA. Immediately, the latest installment of the Deadpool franchise became a hot topic, receiving praise from numerous renowned newspapers.

The world knows that the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is in a period of decline, with films failing at the box office and receiving harsh criticism from critics. The most recent flop was “The Marvels” (2023), criticized as the worst in the superhero universe, with the lowest opening revenue ever: $46.1 million in the US and $110 million globally. However, “Deadpool & Wolverine” is believed to be ending that string of failures, ushering in a promising new era for the MCU.

Before its release in 2016, “Deadpool” (starring Ryan Reynolds) was not highly anticipated. However, this anti-hero proved otherwise. His half-hero, half-villain personality helped the film achieve an impressive domestic opening revenue of $132.4 million. Continuing the success, “Deadpool 2” reached $137 million in 2018.

Returning amid the MCU’s crisis, Deadpool is no longer alone but has a new yet familiar companion, Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) from Fox’s “X-Men” series. Media site Deadline commented that this combination is strange, surpassing all the wildest imaginations but is perfect like a dream. 

Besides the excellent performances of the two A-list stars, the credit also goes to director Shawn Levy. Having worked with Jackman in “Real Steel” (2011) and Reynolds in “Free Guy” (2021) and “The Adam Project” (2022), he knows how to bring out the best in the two actors and help them create great chemistry.

Journalist Pete Hammond remarked that Reynolds continues to maintain his form by fully exploiting the unique character’s personality with witty and biting dialogue, rich in American pop culture. However, Jackman’s return is the brightest spot. Deadline’s writer declared that the version of Wolverine in the Marvel film is the Australian actor’s strongest transformation.

Meanwhile, The New York Post commented that “Deadpool & Wolverine” is the best work Marvel has released since “Spider-Man: No Way Home” (2021). It not only makes the audience laugh but also brings nostalgic emotions through numerous scenes of old characters.

This is not the first time Deadpool and Wolverine appear together in a film. Previously, they met on screen in “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” (2009). However, they have never taken a tense trip together in a Honda Odyssey. They have significant personality differences: Jackman’s Wolverine is full of anger and suffering, while Reynolds’ Deadpool is a witty clown, always making the dirtiest jokes. However, this contrast creates never-boring scenes.

Rotten Tomatoes gave “Deadpool & Wolverine” a fresh score of 80% (as of July 24). Prestigious American critics left many positive reviews for the film.

“‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ is an unmissable MCU experience. Shocking, intense, and more emotional than you expect. In other words, watch it,” wrote Cameron Frew of the news site Dexerto.

“‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ is a cinematic delight. It is a loving tribute to Marvel’s multimedia projects over the decades, but as loud, chaotic, and bloody as the previous two Deadpool films,” commented Jonathan Sim of Comingsoon.net.

“‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ is a multi-layered, energetic action comedy. It has revived the superhero film genre. Corrin, Jackman, and Reynolds are a fantastic explosive trio,” wrote Carla Renata of The Curvy Film Critic.

Wolverine’s return was praised as perfect.

Box Office Record Expectations

According to Variety, “Deadpool & Wolverine” promises to close out July’s box office spectacularly. The film is expected to bring in $160-170 million domestically over the weekend (July 26-28). Some box office experts even believe factors like excitement over Wolverine’s return, the unlikely duo’s strange combination, and rumors of surprise guest appearances could push the three-day weekend revenue to $190-200 million.

Regardless of the final figure, “Deadpool & Wolverine” is likely to surpass the 2016 Deadpool installment (over $132 million) to become the highest-grossing R-rated opening of all time. “Deadpool & Wolverine” is also set to become the highest-grossing opening film of 2024, surpassing another Disney film, “Inside Out 2,” which grossed $155 million.

Internationally, the anti-hero blockbuster aims for $180-190 million in its first week of release. Thus, global revenue by July 28 is expected to be $350-390 million. Disney spent around $200 million to produce and another $100 million to promote the film.

The anticipated success of “Deadpool 3” alleviates doubts about the MCU’s viability. For over 15 years, the franchise has built a powerful empire with 33 films. However, consecutive failures like “Eternals,” “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania,” and “The Marvels” have put the MCU on the brink of decline. To address the crisis, the company has attempted to slow the release pace of spin-offs, sequels, and TV series, making “Deadpool & Wolverine” the only Marvel film of 2024—the first time this has happened since “The Avengers” in 2012. This strategy initially shows clear effectiveness.

Source: K14