Quantumania Opening Weekend Box Office

disney and Marvel Studios’ “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania” grossed an estimated $104 million at the domestic box office in its opening weekend.

The 31st Marvel Cinematic Universe film kicked off Phase Five of the 15-year franchise and established the series’ next main villain – Kang (Jonathan Majors). The character was first seen in the Disney+ series “Loki.”

“Quantumania”‘s domestic haul is nearly double what the first standalone film Ant-Man opened in 2015 and marks the 31st consecutive MCU outing to debut at number one at the domestic box office.

“Marvel may have been more under the microscope in the post-Endgame times than they are used to with several movies and streaming series that sometimes don’t register as well with critics and/or the audience than the brand is used to, which made this release even more significant as it promises to launch Phase 5,” said Shawn Robbins, chief analyst at BoxOffice.com.

“Although some critics did not accept Ant-Man’s third entry, audiences still turned out for the film in huge numbers, with more tickets sold on opening weekend than any other. release of Ant-Man,” he said.

Internationally, “Quantumania” took in $121 million, bringing its estimated worldwide haul for the three-day period to $225 million.

“The power of the Marvel brand to drive moviegoers to the multiplex is undeniable, and the excitement surrounding the MCU’s Phase Five makes ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania’ essential viewing for any fan looking to reignite their enthusiasm for this new era in the ongoing Marvel saga,” said Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst at Comscore.

The film is expected to draw more than seven million viewers to theaters this weekend, according to data from EntTelligence. It’s more than double what sony “Uncharted” caught the eye over Presidents Day weekend last year.

“This Presidents Weekend features the first true blockbuster debut of 2023,” said Comscore’s Dergarabedian. “‘Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania’ sets in motion what seems like week after week of solid movies and builds momentum for a solid summer movie season.”

Additionally, 28% of ticket buyers opted for premium format theaters, paying an average of $4.29 more per ticket.

Increased foot traffic and increased ticket spending are good signs for the entire movie industry, which has suffered significantly during the pandemic and is still recovering.

“We often talk about dates circled on the calendar as potential inflection points, and this weekend was the last for the film industry,” Robbins of BoxOffice.com said. “After a brief dip in post-holiday tent releases, a better-than-expected January and this healthy ‘Quantumania’ result paves the way for a significant recovery in high-profile theatrical content once March begins.”

“All told, 2023 is still in its infancy, but so far it’s meeting expectations as theaters and studios can get excited,” he said.