The film “Deadpool & Wolverine” starring Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, and directed by Shawn Levy, has become the highest-grossing R-rated film of all time, surpassing “Joker.” The movie has earned over $1 billion globally, proving the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s resilience at the box office. The success of the film also indicates that Marvel Studios can explore darker content in the future without alienating audiences. Shawn Robbins, the founder of Box Office Theory, believes that the organic R-rating of the film was necessary for the characters and contributed to its positive reception.
Following Disney’s acquisition of 20th Century Fox in 2019, there was uncertainty about how the R-rated Deadpool character would be handled under Disney’s ownership. However, Marvel head Kevin Feige confirmed in 2021 that a third Deadpool film would maintain its R-rating, easing concerns for MCU fans. The film allowed for humor that poked fun at company executives, the franchise, and even included a reference to the iconic “Frozen” line. Robbins believes that Disney and Marvel will be selective in their future R-rated productions to cater to their family audience while also exploring mature content.
“Deadpool & Wolverine” arrived in theaters amid a mixed performance of Disney’s recent Marvel Cinematic Universe releases. However, the studio regained confidence following the success of the film and the enthusiastic response to their upcoming slate of projects unveiled at events like San Diego Comic-Con and D23 Expo. Marvel’s focus appears to be shifting back to theatrical releases, minimizing their output on Disney+ after producing numerous shows for the platform. Despite some oversaturation in the market, the interest in superhero genre shows no sign of slowing down.
Marvel has announced six theatrical titles set for release in the next three years, including “Captain America: Brave New World,” “Thunderbolts” in 2025, and “The Fantastic 4: First Steps.” Additionally, three television series are scheduled for 2025 – “Agatha All Along,” “Ironheart,” and “Daredevil: Born Again.” The excitement and cheers from Comic-Con and D23 audiences for Marvel’s upcoming slate indicate continued interest and support for the superhero genre. Since the release of “Iron Man” in 2008, the Marvel Cinematic Universe franchise has grossed over $30 billion at the global box office, demonstrating its enduring popularity.
