Friday, May 6: Disney reports this morning that Marvel Studios’ Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness earned $36 million from domestic previews beginning at 3pm on Thursday.
That’s the 8th largest preview gross in history behind Avengers: Infinity War‘s $39 million in late April 2018, and the second largest pandemic era figure behind Spider-Man: No Way Home‘s $50 million.
As forecast, Thursday’s domestic start lands within the expected range. The result doesn’t yet offer enough insight as to how the weekend will play out (something Friday’s business will give a better indication of).
As Thursday leaned toward the lower end of forecasts, $200 million remains an unlocked threshold for the weekend. Regardless, a debut near $190 million domestically or higher remains the target, but word of mouth will dictate some of the weekend trajectory. While critics have given the film a 77 percent score, Rotten Tomatoes’ audience reception stands at 89 percent.
Internationally, Multiverse opened in another 24 markets on Thursday and sent the two-day international haul to $85.7 million. Thursday’s key opening markets included the UK ($6.0 million), Australia ($4.0 million), Brazil ($5.1 million), and Mexico ($8.0 million).
With 44 total markets open across two days, Disney estimates their overall results to be just 12 percent under No Way Home, while 172 percent ahead of 2016’s Doctor Strange and 197 percent ahead of The Batman in like-for-like markets.
The film rolls out in additional markets on Friday. More updates throughout the weekend.
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