This weekend saw Disney test out a hybrid release with one of their top-tier releases, as “Black Widow” starring Scarlett Johansson hit both theaters and Premier Access on Disney+ giving folks multiple options to watch the anticipated superhero movie. The studio had delayed the film’s release by more than a year due to the pandemic, and it seems to have paid off in a major way.
Disney has announced via a press release that their latest MCU installment has earned a solid $215 million in its debut, further proclaim it was the largest post-pandemic era opening since “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.”
They break it down with $80 million for the domestic opening weekend (slightly behind the $85 million opening from “Doctor Strange” in 2016), $78 million for international, and a hefty $60 million for Premier Access on their streaming service Disney+ for the combined amount of $215 million (give or take the final numbers). This is also the first time Disney has announced their weekend earnings from Premier Access, despite having multiple releases in the past.
Either way, how Disney tries to spin it, adding in the premier numbers to make the total look bigger Forbes calls it “grand-scale cheating,” for example, David Simon would call it “juking the stats“), “Black Widow” did best “Furious 9,” which opened up to $70 million domestically, and that’s not nothing.
However, Disney revealed not too long ago that “Shang-Chi & The Legend of The Ten Rings” would be getting an exclusive 45-day theatrical window when it releases on September 3. Things could change between now and then, but don’t expect another hybrid release until it’s announced concerning the MCU films.
This news should give Marvel Studios some confidence to move forward with “Black Widow” sequels, even without Scarlett Johnasson behind them, as there is certainly an audience for female-led action blockbusters. It’ll be interesting to see how Marvel Studios continues the franchise, as they have Florence Pugh‘s (“Midsommar,” “Little Women“) Yelena Belova set to return for the “Hawkeye” series (announced previously by Marvel Studios) and is assumed to be taking the mantle from Johansson.
READ MORE: ‘Black Widow’ Director Thinks A Sequel Could Happen Without Scarlett Johansson
Speaking of sequels, director Cate Shortland expressed a desire to return for “Black Widow 2“ with other characters and actor David Harbour teasing early talks with Marvel about the future of The Red Guardian during a new interview with Collider.
Marvel may have an easy time covering the film’s production budget of almost $200 million and will end up making a solid profit after a lousy year for theaters back in 2020.