As ETERNALS gives November’s box office a supercharged start, it hammers home how Marvel movies have fueled the exhibition’s pandemic recovery. Looking at the six months from July through December, Marvel’s clearly the dominant force at the global box office.
- BLACK WIDOW opened 7/9 via Disney to $80.4M, breathing new life into summer ticket sales despite playing day & date on Disney+. Cumes: $183.7M/dom + $196M/int = $379.6M/ww.
- August had no Marvel opening — but Disney/20th’s FREE GUY did the month’s heavy lifting for exhibitors with $121.5M/dom + $209.6M/int = $331.1M/ww.
- September brought Marvel’s SHANG-CHI AND THE LEGEND OF THE TEN RINGS for Labor Day (9/3) with $75.4M (3 days). Cumes: $223.4M/dom + $204.1M/int = $427.5M/ww.
- October also got off on the right foot thanks to Marvel. VENOM: LET THERE BE CARNAGE debuted 10/1 to $90M via Sony. Cumes: $197M/dom + $227.6M/int = $424.6M/ww.
- November’s already in great shape with Marvel’s ETERNALS opening via Disney to $71M/dom (despite bad reviews) + $90.7M/int = $161.7M/ww.
- December’s top hit, per Hollywood Handicappers, is expected to be Marvel’s SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME (pictured), opening 12/17 via Sony.