Deadpool & Wolverine Shatters Box Office Records

Marvel’s "Deadpool & Wolverine" has achieved a remarkable opening weekend in the US, securing the eighth-biggest opening ever and the best of the year so far. The third Deadpool film, starring Ryan Reynolds as Deadpool and Hugh Jackman as Wolverine, grossed $205 million domestically, according to The Hollywood Reporter. This marks the highest-ever opening for an R-rated film, surpassing the $134 million record set by the first Deadpool in 2016. Internationally, the film brought in $233 million.

In stark contrast, last year's "The Marvels" had the lowest opening in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, earning just $47 million in its first weekend. On Instagram, Reynolds expressed his gratitude to fans, describing the success as "kind of hard to process."

The film follows Deadpool as he attempts to escape his superhero past, only for the Time Variance Authority to recruit him to protect the central "sacred" timeline. Deadpool enlists Wolverine’s help, leading to a series of action-packed events. Matthew Macfadyen plays Mr. Paradox, the corporate stooge of the Time Variance Authority.

Critical reception has been mixed, with many noting the film as a much-needed boost for Marvel. The Guardian praised its ability to "mock the MCU back to life," while Variety highlighted its nostalgic fan service despite some shortcomings in special effects and action sequences.

Ryan Reynolds expressed his enjoyment of creating a standalone film, stating that "Deadpool and Wolverine" is not a setup for another movie. Taylor Swift, a friend of Reynolds and his wife Blake Lively, encouraged fans to watch the film, calling it Reynolds' "best work of his life."

Additionally, Pixar's "Inside Out 2," which previously held the year's biggest opening weekend, continues to dominate the box office, having surpassed $1.5 billion worldwide.