EXCLUSIVE: Moments before Deadpool & Wolverine stars Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman, filmmaker Shawn Levy and Marvel Studios boss Kevin Feige take stage at Comic-Con‘s Hall H, we can tell you first per myriad box office sources that the movie is headed to a record preview night for an R-rated pic. It is eyeing $35M at this minute but very well could wind up north of $40M+ by morning — which wouldn’t be shocking as bawdy movies play late into the night.
Anything north of $31M would make Deadpool & Wolverine one of the top nine preview nights ever. The badass duo already have trampled on the previous R-rated preview record, held by Deadpool 2 with $18.6M in 2018. That movie filed a $53M Friday, of which Thursday previews repped 35% for a 3-day of $125.5M. As we told you, the first Deadpool owns the R-rated 3-day record at $132.4M. That pic did $12.7M in previews, 27% of its first Friday’s $47.3M.
The weekend and the world is Deadpool & Wolverine‘s oyster with 81% certified fresh reviews on Rotten Tomatoes and a stellar 97% audience rating. Read Deadline’s review here, and watch the pic’s latest trailer below.
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How high does Deadpool & Wolverine go? Everyone keeps handicapping that it won’t have the momentum of a PG-13 film. It’s uncharted territory, for sure. Note that Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness posted $36M in previews in 2022, which got it to a $187.4M 3-day, while Avengers: Infinity War did $39M in previews and turned in a 3-day of $257.6M in 2018.
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Word is that those fans getting a seat in Hall H will get to see the Levy-directed, -produced and -written Deadpool & Wolverine for free.
Be sure to watch Natalie Sitek’s coverage of the Deadpool & Wolverine panel tonight on @Deadline X.
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