Jonathan Majors’ Kang helped boost Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania to the trilogy’s best domestic debut.
The Marvel adventure opened with an estimated $104 million from 4,345 theaters in the U.S. and Canada over three days, according to box office tracking company Comscore.
When Presidents Day estimates are included, Ant-Man 3 is expected to ring up a 4-day total of $118 million. The Disney release is the 31st consecutive MCU movie to debut in the #1 spot at the domestic box office.
Related Story: ‘Creed III’ Trailer: Michael B. Jordan Spars With Jonathan Majors (Video)
This third film in the Ant-Man saga opened significantly higher than the previous two releases, after Ant-Man debuted in 2015 with $57.2 million. Ant-Man and the Wasp opened in 2018 with a $75.8 million weekend haul.
Paul Rudd leads the cast of Ant-Man 3 as Scott Lang/Ant-Man. The latest installment introduces Jonathan Majors as Kang the Conqueror, a multiversal villain trapped in the Quantum Realm. The film also stars Michelle Pfeiffer, Michael Douglass, Evangeline Lilly, Bill Murray and Kathryn Newton.
Ant-Man 3 was directed by Peyton Reed from a script written by Jeff Loveness. The film landed a mediocre B CinemaScore from audiences and even worse reviews from critics. The comic book story has a 47 percent Rotten Tomatoes score, with critics describing it as “lackluster,” “exhausting,” and “the worst Marvel movie yet.”
Despite the scathing reviews, Ant-Man 3 accounted for most of this weekend’s domestic box office total, with no other film even earning $10 million.
This weekend’s other newcomer, Marlowe, starring Liam Neeson, Diane Kruger, and Jessica Lange crashed and burned.
The 1930s-era thriller about a down on his luck detective hired to find the ex-lover of a glamorous heiress, took in just $1.9 million over three days and an expected four-day total of $2.3 million. The film opened in 2281 locations, but only managed a per theater average of $837. The Open Road Films and Briarcliff Entertainment release debuted in eighth place at the box office.
Way ahead of Marlowe in second place, was Disney’s release of 20th Century Studios’ James Cameron epic Avatar: The Way of Water earned $6.1 million over 3-days. Now in its 10th weekend, the film has a domestic total through Sunday of $657 million.
Warner Bros. Magic Mike’s Last Dance came in third with $5.5 million for 3-days. The film has earned $18.1 over two weekends.
In fourth place, Universal Pictures presentation of DreamWorks Animation’s Puss In Boots: The Last Wish took in another $5.2 million in 3-days for a domestic total through Sunday of $166 million.
Rounding out the top 5, Universal’s M. Night Shyamalan thriller Knock At The Cabin earned $3.9 million. After three weekends, the film has a domestic total of $30.3 million through Sunday.
Discover more from Urban Hollywood 411
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.