Earlier this month just three weeks beforeBatman v Superman: Dawn of Justicehit theaters,box officeanalysts were predicting this superhero adventure would earn between $120 million and $140 million domestically, with a global debut between $300 million and $340 million. Following a domestic total of $170 million that exceeded expectations,Deadlinereports thatBatman v Superman: Dawn of Justicehas made an additional $254 million from 66 international markets, for a worldwide debut of $424.1 million, the highest global opening for any superhero movie.
The previous record for a worldwide superhero debut was actually held by twoMarvelmovies, 2012’sMarvel’s The AvengersandAvengers: Age of Ultron, which both pulled in a global take of $392.5 million in their respective opening weekends.Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice’s worldwide debut of $424.1 million is the fourth highest in cinematic history, behindHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2($483.2 million),Jurassic World($524.9 million) andStar Wars: The Force Awakens$529 million). It’s domestic haul of $170 million is the sixth best ever, while its international tally of $254 million is the fifth best of all time.
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justicepulled in an impressive $27.7 million duringThursday previews, before opening on 4,242 screens for Good Friday to the tune of $82 million, the fourth biggest opening day ever. The film is reportedly budgeted at $250 million before marketing, with some estimates placing it at over $400 million after all is said and done. During its first day in theaters, it pulled in an impressive $19,333 per theater. The epic DC adventure had the highest Easter Weekend Thursday pre-show of all-time, besting 2015’sFurious 7, which earned $15.8 million this same time last year.
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice’s opening box office figures are even more impressive considering the film was trashed by the nation’s critics. Thesuperheroadventure currently has a 29% “Rotten” rating on Rotten Tomatoes, but audiences have embraced the movie much more than the critics. The movie currently has a respectable B rating on Cinemascore, and 73% of Rotten Tomatoes users gave the movie a positive score, with an average rating of 3.8 out of 5. Aside from scoring the best global weekend for any superhero movie,Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justicealso set a number of other records.
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justicehas the highest March debut ever, beatingThe Hunger Games' 2012 debut of $152.5 million. It also scored Warner Bros.' biggest opening ever in China with $57.3 million, and the studio’s biggest domesticIMAXdebut in history with $18 million. The movie took in $36 million globally from 945 IMAX screens around the world. Are you glad thatBatman v Superman: Dawn of Justiceexceeded expectations at the box office? Or are you surprised that it managed to overcome a spate of negative reviews?
