Paul Rudd is Scott Lang, aka Ant-Man, alongside Jonathan Majors as Kang the Conqueror in “Ant-Man and the Wasp in Quantumania”.
Disney
Disney Marvel Studios’ Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania took in an estimated $104 million at the domestic box office during its opening weekend.
The 31st Marvel Cinematic Universe movie kicked off Phase 5 of the 15-year-old franchise and established the series’ next overarching villain – Kang (Jonathan Majors). The character was first seen in the Disney+ series “Loki”.
The domestic production of “Quantumania” nearly doubled what the first standalone Ant-Man film opened in 2015 and marks the 31st consecutive installment of the MCU to debut at #1 at the domestic box office.
“Marvel may have been under the microscope in post-Endgame times than they used to with many movies and streaming series occasionally not scoring as well with critics and/or audiences as the brand used to, which made this release even more of a big deal,” said Sean Robbins, senior director. BoxOffice.com analysts: “Important because it promises to kick off Phase 5.”
“Although the third Ant-Man movie wasn’t taken by some critics, audiences still turned out to the film in droves to match the number of tickets sold in its opening weekend than any previous Ant-Man release,” he said.
Internationally, “Quantumania” took in $121 million, bringing its estimated worldwide three-day haul to $225 million.
“The power of the Marvel brand to drive moviegoers into multiplexes is undeniable, and the excitement surrounding the MCU Phase 5 makes Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania a must-see for any fan looking to galvanize their excitement for this new era in the universe,” said Paul Dergarabedian. comScore Senior Media Analyst, “The Continuing Marvel Saga.”
The film is expected to drive more than seven million patrons into theaters this weekend, according to data from EntTelligence. This is more than double what Sony Uncharted caught on over last year’s Presidents Day weekend.
“This weekend of Chiefs boasts the first true mega opening of 2023,” said Comscore’s Dergarabedian. “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania kicks off what feels like week after week of strong blockbusters and is creating momentum for a solid summer movie season.”
In addition, 28% of ticket buyers chose premium-format theaters, paying an average of $4.29 more per ticket.
High pedestrian traffic and high ticket spending are good signs for the movie theater industry in general, which has suffered greatly during the pandemic and is still recovering.
“We often talk about dates being circled around the calendar as potential inflection points, and this weekend was the latest in the film industry,” Robbins of BoxOffice.com said. “After a brief dip in post-holiday support releases, a better-than-expected January and this healthy result from ‘Quantumania’ paved the way for a significant rebound in high-profile theatrical content once March got underway.”
“Finally, 2023 is still in its infancy but so far it has lived up to expectations as the year theaters and studios can get excited,” he said.