Spider-Man: No Way Home absolutely obliterated all of the top domestic box office earners in its first weekend in theaters including Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige’s MSheU Phase 4 installments of Black Widow, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, and Eternals.
According to The-Numbers, Spider-Man: No Way Home raked in $253 million at the domestic box office, putting it firmly at the top of the 2021 box office charts by unseating Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, which only grossed $224.5 million in its entire domestic run.
Not only did Spider-Man: No Way Home bring in record-breaking domestic grosses, but it also hauled in $334 million internationally for a global gross of $587.2 million. And that’s without the Communist Chinese market.
The film took the top spot for the highest grossing domestic weekend in December unseating Star Wars: The Force Awakens, which had an opening of $247.9 million.
It also had the third highest grossing domestic opening weekend of all time behind Avengers: Endgame and Avengers: Infinity War. It’s the highest opening weekend in Sony’s history according to Deadline.
Spider-Man: No Way Home also crushed opening weekend records for the Spider-Man franchise. The previous highest grossing opening weekend in the franchise was Spider-Man 3, which had an opening weekend of $151.1 million back in 2007. Even with inflation that’s only $202.5 million.
The film still has some work to do to take the highest grossing spot in the franchise from the original Spider-Man. It earned $403.7 million back in 2002. That would be $623.7 million in today’s dollars if you factor in inflation.
It’s also got some work to do to take the top spot at the worldwide box office. Spider-Man: Far From Home currently holds that spot with a $1.3 billion gross.
As for how it lines up against other Marvel Cinematic Universe films, it had the third highest opening weekend behind Avengers: Endgame and Avengers: Infinity War. Endgame’s domestic opening weekend was $357.1 million and Infinity War brought in $257.6 million.
The film did put quite a bit of distance behind it to fourth place, which is The Avengers. That film had an opening weekend of $207.4 million.
RELATED: Marvel Studios EVP Victoria Alonso Claims “You Are Leaving Money On The Table By Not Representing”
As far as where the film currently stands in total domestic gross, it’s the 17th highest grossing MCU film after just its first weekend. It’s already passed Doctor Strange, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Ant-Man and the Wasp, Thor: The Dark World, Black Widow, Thor, Ant-Man, Captain America: The First Avenger, Eternals, and The Incredible Hulk.
Looking at the worldwide charts, it’s a little bit further down the charts in 19th highest grossing MCU film. But it’s head of Iron Man, Ant-Man, Thor, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Eternals, Black Widow, Captain America: The First Avenger, and The Incredible Hulk.
Of note the film absolutely crushed Marvel Studios and Kevin Feige’s previous MSheU Phase 4 installments of Black Widow, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, and Eternals.
After having no competition in theaters for over a month, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings only grossed $224.5 million domestically and $417.9 million globally.
Black Widow grossed $183.6 million domestically and $375.4 million globally. The film was released day and date on Disney+ and The Walt Disney Company claimed the film earned $60 million in its first weekend from Disney+ Premier Access purchases.
Eternals fared the worse of the three MSheU films. It only grossed $163.5 million domestically and $399.6 million globally.
As for why the film smashed box office records in its opening weekend, YouTuber OMB Reviews explained, “It’s movies that have gotten not just good fan reaction, but have been giving fans what they want.”
OMB Reviews went on to predict the film will easily gross over $1 billion. He explained his prediction, “If [Spider-Man: No Way Home] in those overseas markets is already ahead of [Venom 2 and F9: The Fast Saga] by 100 to 200 percent, we’re looking at a movie that is going to easily be able to pass a billion dollars and all of that without China.”
“So, as I have been saying now for several videos, the pandemic narrative is falling apart and it is truly a wonderful thing to see,” he added.
RELATED: Kevin Feige Says Doctor Strange Cut From WandaVision Because He’s White And Male
In a video for the Geeks + Gamers YouTube channel, OMB Reviews also pointed that Spider-Man: No Way Home is likely to gross more than Eternals, Black Widow, and Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings combined.
He stated, “[Spider-Man: No Way Home] has now made more than, vastly more, than every MCU film that has come out. And, in fact, by the end of its run it will have more more, likely will have made more than all of the MCU films combined this year.”
“And this to me is damning for Disney. It’s damning for the current state of the MCU because even though people are going to try and say, ‘Well, this is the MCU too.’ Yes, there are definitely MCU elements in this movie, but let’s be honest here. What’s making this film successful are those Sony elements– are part of the Sony history of this franchise. That is what’s making this film truly an event film and not really much dealing with Disney.”
What do you make of Spider-Man: No Way Home’s record breaking opening weekend? What do you make of the fact that it will likely gross more than Black Widow, Eternals, and Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings combined?