Paul Rudd as Scott Lang, aka Ant-Man, alongside Johnathan Majors as the Conqueror in “Ant-Man and the Wasp in Quantumania.”
Disney
Disney and Marvel Studios’ “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania” scored an estimated $104 million at the domestic box office during its opening weekend.
The 31st film of the Marvel Cinematic Universe kicks off the fifth phase of the 15-year franchise and introduces the next villain for the series – Kang (Jonathan Majors). The character first appeared in the Disney+ series “Loki.”
“Quantumania”‘s domestic haul is nearly double that of the first standalone Ant-Man film that opened in 2015 and marks the 31st consecutive MCU release to debut at number one at the domestic box office.
“Marvel may be more under the microscope in the post-Endgame period than usual with some movies and streaming series occasionally not registering as well with critics and/or audiences as the brand, which makes this release even more important because it promises to start the Phase 5,” said Shawn Robbins, chief analyst at BoxOffice.com.
“Although some critics did not take to the third Ant-Man entry, the audience still turned to the film in strong numbers to the tune of more tickets sold in the opening weekend than for any previous Ant-Man release,” he said.
Internationally, “Quantumania” earned $121 million, making it an estimated $225 million for its three-day spread.
“The power of the Marvel brand to drive moviegoers to the multiplex is undeniable and the excitement surrounding the fifth phase of the MCU makes ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania’ essential for fans who want to start their enthusiasm for this new era of the ongoing Marvel saga. ,” said Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst at Comscore.
The film is expected to drive more than seven million visitors to theaters this weekend, according to data from EntTelligence. That’s more than double what Sony “Uncharted” drew attention during President’s Day weekend last year.
“This President’s weekend has a true blockbuster opening in 2023,” Dergarabedian told Comscore. “‘Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania’ sets up what last week looked like for solid movie viewing and builds momentum for a solid summer movie season.”
Additionally, 28% of ticket buyers chose premium format cinemas, at an average of $4.29 per ticket.
Higher foot traffic and higher ticket spending bode well for the overall cinema industry, which suffered during the pandemic and is still recovering.
“We often talk about dates circled on the calendar as potential inflection points, and this weekend is the latest for the movie industry,” said Robbins of BoxOffice.com. “After a brief dip in the post-holiday release tentpole, a better-than-expected January and healthy results from ‘Quantumania’ pave the way for a significant pickup in high-profile theatrical content as March begins.”
“All that being said, 2023 is still young, but so far it can meet expectations because cinemas and studios a year can be enthusiastic,” he said.