Black Widow has opened up in theatres with the biggest domestic box office records since Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker in 2019. Worldwide, the three-day opening weekend brought in $215 million.
As a film that was anticipated to do well, Black Widow hit the sweet spot at $80 million domestically on its debut. This beat F9, the previous record holder which debuted at $70 million USD.
In terms of overall calculation, $80 million accounted for Black Widow’s domestic market, $78 million came from its international distribution in 46 territories, and an estimated $60 million with its Disney+ Premier Access streaming deal.
The numbers are lower than other Marvel debuts, but they certainly seem to be great for a post-pandemic screening.
It’s hard to forget that Black Widow is no ordinary debut—not only does it come two years after any Marvel action on the big screen, it is also a homage to the Avenger we lost, and the chance to have her back, in her own spotlight. About the film’s opening success, here is what Kareem Daniel, Chairman, Disney Media and Entertainment Distribution has to say:
“Once again, Marvel has delivered an exceptional film to the delight of fans worldwide, with Black Widow achieving numerous milestones in the current marketplace. Black Widow’s strong performance this weekend affirms our flexible distribution strategy of making franchise films available in theaters for a true cinematic experience and, as COVID concerns continue globally, providing choice to consumers who prefer to watch at home on Disney+.”
Kareem Daniel
Still, there is a debate as to whether the Disney+ model is actually lucrative, as some may counter that it puts a dent in Disney’s pockets. This comes in particularly with the decision of allowing Disney-distributed movies like Black Widow to stream online on its debut day itself.
In light of the pandemic, this may be a good idea for those who cannot afford to or do not wish to step out for various reasons. But it does put a damper on those who do watch the movie in a cinema hall. Not to mention, the inability of having an HD roll-out on your fingertips is what had earlier led to ‘rewatch’ theatrical sales.
It has been unprecedented for Disney to release its subscription sales on an opening weekend, and it is unclear if it will do so for other movies as well. Disney+ had introduced the Premier Access pass with the release of Mulan. But it is definitely Black Widow that drove the subscription strategy home.
Now, with the Premier Access pass supposedly granting all access to any “premium” movies in the future (which means subscribers won’t have to purchase it a second time, for another movie), it seems like Black Widow may be the only movie that will benefit from Premier Access sales.
It is possible for Disney to change its tunes, or sing a different song altogether in the future.
Till then, we can keep enjoying the marvel that is Natasha Romanoff in Disney+ Premier Access account or at a theatre near you.
By the way, for those who can wait, Black Widow will be available at no extra cost on Disney+ on October 6.
About Black Widow
Black Widow is an upcoming American superhero film based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name. Produced by Marvel Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, it is intended to be the 24th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).
Directed by Cate Shortland and written by Eric Pearson, the movie stars Scarlett Johansson as Natasha Romanoff alongside Florence Pugh, David Harbour, O-T Fagbenle, William Hurt, Ray Winstone, and Rachel Weisz.
It will be the first film in Phase Four of the MCU, and was delayed three times from an original May 2020 release date due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Disney confirms Marvel Studios’ Black Widow will release on Disney+ for no extra cost to existing subscribers after its Premier Access release, October 6.
The film follows Natasha Romanoff as she confronts the darker parts of her ledger when a dangerous conspiracy with ties to her past arises. Pursued by a force that will stop at nothing to bring her down, Natasha must deal with her history as a spy and the broken relationships left in her wake long before she became an Avenger.
Source: The Walt Disney Company
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