“Deadpool” has the top February opening weekend in history

Over the long holiday weekend, we saw some box office records fall. Yes, Deadpool had one of the very best early year openings ever, setting the mark for the month of February, as well as the one for an R rated feature. Considering what a struggle this was to even see the superhero come to the big screen, this is a massive success. You’ll see all of the numbers below, but while this isn’t something on the level of what Star Wars has done at the box office, it’s still tremendous. Especially when you consider the type of comic book property that this is, it makes the numbers that the film has taken in all the more impressive. Suffice to say, we’ll be seeing a sequel in pretty quick fashion if the powers that be at Fox have anything to do about it.

Here’s a quick refresher on the flick, in case you’re still not familiar with it. The movie is probably the most meta comic book tale we’ve ever seen. Sure, this is also an origin story about how mercenary Wade Wilson (Ryan Reynolds) became the mutant Deadpool, but it’s also a commentary on those sorts of plots as well. Wade/Deadpool breaks the fourth wall constantly, always letting us know that he knows he’s a comic book character, as well as starring in his own movie. It’s dirty, profane, and absolutely bonkers, but believe it or not, there’s also a believable, if also sexually charged, love story at the center, with Vanessa (Morena Baccarin) representing something more for the character. Tim Miller directs, while Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick penned the script. In addition to Reynolds in the leading role and the aforementioned Baccarin, the cast includes Gina Carano, Brianna Hildebrand, Stefan Kapicic, Greg LaSalle, T.J. Miller, Ed Skrein, and Leslie Uggams, along with the required Marvel movie cameo from Stan Lee, of course. As I mentioned last week, Miller steals some of his scenes with comic relief, but Reynolds gives one of his best performances to date here.

Here’s a look at some of the record setting numbers that Deadpool has been able to put up so far. For the initial three day weekend, it made $132,750,000 at the box office, which is unheard of. That haul is good for not only the largest February opening ever, but it’s the biggest winter season opening weekend to date as well. Throw in the aforementioned stat of it being the top R rated debut in addition to those two records, and Deadpool had quite the weekend. When you include estimates for yesterday and the President’s Day holiday figures, the box office number for the Merc with a Mouth jumps to about $150,000,000. Pretty astounding, right? Well, just wait until we potentially see what Deadpool 2 can do in a few years.

Overall, you have to admit that Deadpool pulled in some incredible numbers. Yes, over the last few years we’ve seen early year releases kill it at the box office, but rarely with the sort of mostly rave reviews that this movie has gotten. Normally, it’s a film that’s either taking advantage of opening wide after a limited run the year before, or just something that’s not a would be blockbuster. The flick looks like something that belongs more in the summer, but obviously it sounds like nothing we’ve ever seen before. For that reason alone, the staggering success at the box office and launch of a new franchise is something to be happy about…

Deadpool is in theaters everywhere right now, so if you’re one of the few who haven’t seen it yet, be sure not to miss it!