Traditionally, the month February doesn’t usually play host to manybox officeblockbusters, but that has changed in recent years. In 2014,The Lego Movieopened with a whopping $69 million, en route to a domestic take of $257.7 million, and last year,Fifty Shades of Greybroke the all-time February opening weekend record with $85.1 million, breakingThe Passion of the Christ’s 11-year record of $83.8 million. That same weekend, the second place finisher,Kingsman: The Secret Service, even fared quite well, opening with $36 million. The February tradition of new blockbusters is set to continue this year withDeadpool, withThe Hollywood Reporterrevealing the film is on pace for an opening weekend take of $55 million.
Analysts started tracking thesuperhero adventureyesterday, with some even claiming that it could hit north of $60 million in its opening frame. The 20th Century Fox film will go up against Warner Bros. romantic comedyHow to Be Single, which doesn’t have any early tracking data yet, and Paramount’scomedysequelZoolander 2, which analysts are predicting will open with $20 million. If these projections are accurate, the R-ratedDeadpoolwill have a higher opening weekend than both the originalX-MenandX-Men: First Class.
In related news, tickets are now on sale forDeadpool, ahead of its February 12 release. Based uponMarvel Comics' most unconventional anti-hero, Deadpool tells the origin story of former Special Forces operative turned mercenary Wade Wilson, who after being subjected to a rogue experiment that leaves him with accelerated healing powers, adopts the alter ego Deadpool. Armed with his new abilities and a dark, twisted sense of humor, Deadpool hunts down the man who nearly destroyed his life.
What remains to be seen is if 20th Century Fox will actually plunk down some big bucks to promote Deadpool during theSuper Bowl. The cost of a single 30-second TV spot is reportedly $5 million this year, so we’ll have to wait and see if the studio has any plans for the Merc With the Mouth to invade the big game, which airs Sunday, February 7 on CBS, just five days before the movie hits theaters. StarRyan Reynoldstweeted out the news that tickets are on sale, which comes with a link to purchase tickets and a new photo. The actor also announced he’s hosting a Q&A today on the@FandangoTwitter feed, which you can follow with the hashtag #Fandeadgo.
Ryan Reynoldsstars as theMerc With the Mouth, with a supporting cast that includesMorena Baccarin,Gina Carano,Ed Skrein,T.J. Miller,Brianna Hildebrand, Olesia Shewchuk, Style Dayne, Rachel Sheen and Dan Zachary.Tim Millermakes his directorial debut with Deadpool, working from a script byRhett ReeseandPaul Wernick. Deadpool is based on the Marvel comic book series created byRob Liefeld. How much do you think Deadpool will make on its opening weekend?
