The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) franchise is gaining momentum with the release of “Captain America: Brave New World”, which has brought in $88.5 million at the North American box office over the weekend, according to studio estimates. The film’s massive opening is expected to hit $100 million domestically and $192.4 globally by Monday.
Directed by Julius Onah, the movie marks a significant transition for the “Captain America” brand as it introduces Anthony Mackie as the new Cap, replacing Chris Evans who played the character for almost a decade. Harrison Ford co-stars as the U.S. President who transforms into the Red Hulk.
While receiving poor reviews from critics (51% “rotten” on Rotten Tomatoes), audiences have been more generous in their opinions, with an 80% “verified audience score”. The film’s production price tag is significantly lower than many big-budget Marvel movies, at $180 million excluding marketing costs.
The MCU franchise has seen a resurgence after the poor performance of “The Marvels” last summer. With two major theatrical releases scheduled for 2025, including “Thunderbolts” in May and “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” in July, it’s clear that audiences still have a huge interest in seeing their favorite superheroes on the big screen.
Other notable releases this weekend include Sony’s “Paddington in Peru”, which earned an estimated $13 million, and Universal’s “Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy”, which went straight to Peacock. The top five box office earners were rounded out by “Heart Eyes”, “Dog Man”, and the Chinese blockbuster “Ne Zha 2”.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/captain-america-box-office-8b8d04e163a17b4f65a2bd452fbd5006