The summer box office has returned after a two-year hiatus due to the coronavirus outbreak. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, from Marvel Studios, begins its worldwide release this weekend.
According to Disney, the Marvel Studios film grossed $27.2 million from 20 material markets on Wednesday. The total excludes Latin American and Australian preview grosses.
The sequel, directed by Sam Raimi and starring Benedict Cumberbatch, will be released in North America on Thursday night. According to tracking, the latest instalment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe will earn between $160 and $180 million in its home launch and more over $300 million worldwide. More optimistic commentators put those amounts much higher, but admit that it all hinges on how early the $200 million film is released.
While overall attendance is still lower than pre-pandemic levels, moviegoer optimism is at an all-time high. Throughout the COVID-19 crisis, superhero films made the best business, led by Spider-Man: No Way Home.