The MCU is back like it never left! Spider-Man Brand New Day debuted to a senses-shattering $355 million in domestic box office, the second biggest film opening ever. Worldwide it made $927 million, the second biggest global opening ever.
In both cases, the winner is still Avengers Endgame, at $357.1 and $1.2 billion respectively, but Brand New Day looks likely to sneak by it domestically. Spider-Man also set records for Sony:
Spider-Man: Brand New Day created a slew of brand new records throughout the weekend, giving Sony its best opening ever. The movie’s historic $72 million from domestic Thursday previews topped the previous best of $60 million in previews for Endgame. Brand New Day also set the record for the top opening Friday domestic sum with $168 million, surpassing Avengers: Endgame’s $156.7 million. Brand New Day took in $101.5 million on Saturday for the second-biggest tally ever on that day of the week.
“To be truly honest, it feels fantastic,” Sony Pictures chief Tom Rothman tells The Hollywood Reporter. As for what worked, he says, “You’ve just got to make a really, really great film. Now, there are other more mechanical factors. There hasn’t been one in five years, so scarcity has value. The audience is very, very connected with this character. It’s a very relatable story. No matter how old or young you are, everybody wants connection in the world. Everybody needs friends — and that’s what the movie is about.”
While I was not a huge fan of the film, I am definitely in the minority, although social media users are still puzzled over how Peter Parker could afford his gadgets and living expenses with no mention of how he makes money. Look, that’s all New Yorkers think about, so we’re allowed to ask questions.
With The Odyssey also setting box office records – domestic take stands at $395 million – Hollywood has learned one key lesson: the trio of Tom Holland, Zendaya and Jon Bernthal means boffo box office!
After getting lost in its own odyssey of up and down films in Phase Four and beyond, the MCU seems to be holding on to its crown of the biggest movie franchise ever. Avengers Doomsday still raises many questions about bringing back the old cast, but clearly movie goers like the old cast, so expect a new bunch of box office records to be set when it opens on December 18th.
