Paul Rudd is Scott Lang, aka Ant-Man, alongside Johnathan Majors as Kang the Conqueror in Ant-Man and the Wasp in Quantumania.
Disney
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 ushered in the fifth phase of the 15-year-old franchise and established the next overarching villain for the series – Kang (Jonathan Majors). The character first appeared in the Disney+ series Loki.
The domestic yield of Quantumania is nearly double that of the first standalone Ant-Man film, which opened in 2015, and marks the 31st consecutive MCU release to debut at number one at the domestic box office.
“Marvel may have come under more scrutiny than they’re used to in post-Endgame times, with several films and streaming series occasionally not resonating with critics and/or viewers as well as the brand is accustomed to what these Release made even more important as it promises to kickstart Phase 5,” said Shawn Robbins, principal analyst at BoxOffice.com.
“Although some critics disliked the third Ant-Man entry, it attracted a lot of viewers to see the film sell more tickets during its opening weekend than any previous Ant-Man release,” he said.
Internationally, “Quantumania” grossed $121 million, bringing the estimated worldwide catch for the three-day distribution to $225 million.
“The power of the Marvel brand to drive moviegoers into multiplex is undeniable, and the excitement surrounding the MCU’s fifth phase makes ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania’ a must-see for any fan who wants to share their excitement for this new one era wants to kickstart the ongoing Marvel saga,” said Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst at Comscore.
According to data from EntTelligence, the film is expected to bring more than seven million viewers to theaters this weekend. That’s more than twice as much Sony’s “Uncharted” beckoned over Presidents Day weekend last year.
“This Presidents weekend features the first true blockbuster opener of 2023,” said Comscore’s Dergarabedian. “‘Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania’ kickstarts what appears to be solid box office admissions week in and week out and sets the momentum for a solid summer movie season.”
Additionally, 28% of ticket buyers chose premium format cinemas, paying an average of $4.29 more per ticket.
Higher audience traffic and ticket spending bode well for the entire cinema industry, which has suffered significantly during the pandemic and is still recovering.
“We often talk about dates circled on the calendar as potential turning points, and this weekend was the latest for the film industry,” said BoxOffice.com’s Robbins. “After a brief dip in post-holiday tentpole releases, a better-than-expected January and this healthy result from ‘Quantumania’ paves the way for a significant increase in high-quality cinema content at the start of March.”
“All in all, 2023 is still in its infancy but so far living up to expectations as a year for theaters and studios to be excited about,” he said.
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