“Deadpool,” led by popular stars Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman, has now passed the US$1 billion mark in global ticket sales, with US$494.3 million in North America and US$535 million internationally, industry watcher Exhibitor Relations said.
Warner Bros.’ 2019 thriller “Joker” was the only other R-rated film to reach the $1 billion milestone, according to Hollywood Reporter.
But “It Ends With Us” was sailing along at a near-historic pace as well, taking in US$50 million for the Friday-through-Sunday period in what was an extraordinary weekend for the power couple of Reynolds and Blake Lively – she produced and stars in the romance film.
It was the first time in an August, a traditionally slow month, that two films have grossed US$50 million in the same weekend, Variety reported.
Analyst David A. Gross said that final numbers should place “It Ends With Us” – based on the 2016 novel by uber-best-selling author Colleen Hoover – among the top all-time romance openings. “Fifty Shades of Grey” still has a firm grip on that list, with an US$85.2 million opening.
In third for the weekend was Universal’s weather thriller “Twisters,” at US$15 million, down one spot from last weekend. Glen Powell and Daisy Edgar-Jones star as daring tornado chasers who sometimes find the tornados chasing them.
Lionsgate’s new release “Borderlands” placed fourth, at US$8.8 million, in what Gross said was “a weak opening” for a video-game-based action film despite a cast including Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart and Jack Black. The critically panned film cost an estimated US$100 million to make.
And in fifth, down one spot in its sixth weekend out, was Universal’s family-friendly animation “Despicable Me 4,” at US$8 million.
Rounding out the top 10 were:
- “Trap” (US$6.7 million)
- “Inside Out 2” (US$5 million)
- “Harold and the Purple Crayon” (US$3.1 million)
- “Cuckoo” (US$3 million)
- “Longlegs” (US$2 million)