An R-rated film featuring Deadpool and Wolverine is predicted to have the highest opening.

• The domestic box office is predicted to earn between $160 million and $180 million from Disney and Marvel's "Deadpool and Wolverine" during its opening.
• The movie is predicted to establish new records during its first weekend, including the highest opening of 2024 and the highest opening for any R-rated film.
• An R-rating from the Motion Picture Association was earned by "Deadpool and Wolverine," which is the first time an MCU film has received this rating.

This weekend, the "Merc with a Mouth" is back on the big screen, bringing more than just an R-rating to the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

The third standalone film featuring Ryan Reynolds as the regenerating degenerate, "Deadpool and Wolverine," is predicted to earn between $160 million and $180 million at the domestic box office upon release.

According to Fandango, the film has already become the best ticket pre-seller of 2024 and is expected to break several records during its opening weekend, including the highest domestic opening of 2024 and the biggest debut ever for an R-rated film.

The highest-grossing film of the year so far is Disney and Pixar's "Inside Out 2," which opened with $154.2 million, while the first "Deadpool" movie holds the record for the highest R-rated feature debut with $132.4 million, according to Comscore data.

"No question will open as the largest R-rated movie of all time," said Mike Bowers, president and CEO of Harkins Theatres, a theater chain based in Arizona. "It's already one of the top presale movies historically for us."

The 34th film under the MCU banner, "Deadpool and Wolverine," is the first to receive an R-rating from the Motion Picture Association. The previous two Deadpool films, both rated R, were produced and released through 20th Century Fox. Disney acquired the company in 2019, bringing the X-Men and Fantastic Four back into the larger Marvel portfolio.

The anticipation for "Deadpool and Wolverine" is high due to fan excitement. Viewers are eager to watch the movie during its opening weekend to avoid spoilers. Disney has kept the film's content under wraps and only provided limited press screenings before its release.

The film's opening is expected to attract audiences, and they will continue to return in the weeks to come.

"This film is packed with so many jokes, funny sequences, and action that viewers won't be able to stop watching," he said.

Cineplex president and CEO Ellis Jacob agreed with Bower's assessment that "Deadpool and Wolverine" is packed with Easter eggs, encouraging viewers to return to catch them all.

Additionally, he pointed out that numerous moviegoers are purchasing tickets for premium screenings, such as IMAX, Dolby, and ScreenX, which cost more.

Theaters have partnered with Marvel to sell collectible merchandise, such as popcorn buckets and drink containers, which are expected to sell quickly. Concessions are the biggest source of revenue for theaters, and limited edition items can boost food and beverage sales even further.

Disney has decided to slow down its release schedule for the Marvel Cinematic Universe, according to Shawn Robbins, founder and owner of Box Office Theory. This move comes after a string of theatrical flops and poor box office returns, as well as an influx of streaming content that saturated the market and left even the most devoted MCU fans feeling overwhelmed.

"While this movie is a Marvel production, it can also be viewed as a midsummer action comedy featuring popular characters and brands that both die-hard fans and casual viewers enjoy," said Robbins. "Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman make a great team due to their strong pop culture presence and friendly banter on social media and in interviews. There's also excitement about how the MCU's first R-rated film will maintain the qualities that made the previous Deadpool films and Jackman's 2017 Wolverine film, 'Logan,' so popular."