Image Source: Toms Guide
The latest Marvel movie, “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness,” debuted at No. 1 with a domestic box office total of $265 million from 4,534 locations this weekend. With a global total of $450 million, Sam Raimi’s $200 million MCU became the second highest opening for a Hollywood film during the pandemic era.
The PG-13 multiverse film starring Elizabeth Olsen, Benedict Cumberbatch, and Benedict Wong garnered a total of 75 percent critics’ approval rating (out of 315 reviews) and an 87 percent audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, the most popular film review website.
This is the 11th most successful opening weekend in cinema history. Given the rarity of reaching those heights, “Doctor Strange 2” easily had the largest opening weekend of 2022 and COVID-19 history. “The Batman” had the biggest opening weekend of the year before this weekend, with $134 million. “Spider-Man: No Way Home” had the greatest opening weekend of the epidemic with $260 million (and the second-highest ever).
In 49 countries, the film grossed $265 million, bringing the global total to $450 million. Because “Doctor Strange 2” will not be released in China, Russia, or Ukraine, it will rely on repeat viewings from audiences around the world to reach the $1 billion mark. Only “Spider-Man: No Way Home” has been able to break through since COVID took hold.
Even though it was a sequel, Multiverse of Madness had a bigger opening weekend than the first Doctor Strange, which made about $85 million in its first weekend in 2016. It was the biggest opening weekend of 2022 so far.
The domestic box office for the “Doctor Strange” sequel topped its predecessor’s opening weekend total in a single day. “Doctor Strange” pulled in $85 million over the weekend, while “Multiverse of Madness” took in $90 million on Friday alone. Marvel and other large-franchise films are often front-loaded in terms of ticket sales because fans want to be among the first to see the movie – lest spoilers leak online and mar the experience. Regardless, the sequel will undoubtedly outperform the first “Doctor Strange,” which grossed $232 million in the United States and $677 million worldwide.
“Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” was directed by Sam Raimi, the man behind the original “Spider-Man” trilogy. The film begins with Benedict Cumberbatch’s character, a neurosurgeon-turned-Avenger, casting a deadly spell that requires him to go across the universe to battle a mystery new opponent and alternate versions of himself. Chiwetel Ejiofor as Karl Mordo; Elizabeth Olsen as Wanda Maximoff, a.k.a. Scarlet Witch; Benedict Wong as Wong; and Xochitl Gomez as America Chavez, a teen who can travel between realities, join Cumberbatch in the cast.
“Doctor Strange 2” is a strong start to the summer blockbuster season. “Top Gun: Maverick” (May 27), “Jurassic World Dominion” (June 10), and “Thor: Love and Thunder” (July 8) are expected to keep theaters busy in the coming months.
Critics and observers in the film business predicted a record-breaking opening weekend for Marvel’s cinematic effort “Doctor Strange: In the Multiverse of Madness,” and Marvel is on track to rewrite cinematic history in the wake of the film’s opening weekend box office.
