The summer movie season is off to a blockbuster start thanks to “ Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness.” The superhero extravaganza grossed an estimated
Not only did it more than double the opening of the first “Doctor Strange,” which opened to
Internationally, it’s doing even better with an estimated
Spider-Man is at least partially to thank for the massive debut. Benedict Cumberbatch’s powerful sorcerer appeared prominently in “ Spider-Man: No Way Home,” which has become the third biggest movie of all time since opening in December. “Doctor Strange 2” picks up several months after the events of “No Way Home,” and brings in Elizabeth Olsen’s
The film also has a gigantic footprint. It's playing in 4,534 theaters in the
“Summer blockbuster season is off to a roaring start with ‘Doctor Strange' — an excellent sign for the phenomenal slate ahead,”
Over the weekend, the film has trended on social media for everything from its many cameos to a spirited debate over its PG-13 rating and whether or not the horror elements warranted something more restrictive.
“This is a total win for the industry for whom the last two summers almost didn’t exist in terms of box office,” said
There was little left for other movies playing in theaters. Part of that is due to the fact that many multiplexes chose to pack their theaters with wall-to-wall “Doctor Strange” screenings. Film Critic
Universal and DreamWorks Animation’s “The Bad Guys” fell to second place in its third weekend with an estimated
“Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore” took fourth with
The success of “Doctor Strange 2” only helps build momentum for the big summer movies on the way, like “Top Gun: Maverick” on
“We’ve got a real summer movie season on our hands, something we couldn’t have imagined two years ago,” Dergarabedian said. “It’s been a long time coming.”
Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at
1. “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness,”
2. “The Bad Guys,”
3. Sonic the Hedgehog 2,”
4. “Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore,”
5. “Everything Everywhere All At Once,”
6. “The Northman,”$2.8 million.
7. “The Lost City,”
8. “The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent,”
9. “Memory,”
10. “Father Stu,”
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