New Disney superhero film Black Widow took just over $80 million in North American theaters this weekend —a pandemic-era record that highlights the continuing lure of the Marvel Cinematic Universe—industry watcher Exhibitor Relations reported Monday.
The movie, starring Scarlett Johansson as the Russian former superspy, took $80.4 million at the domestic box office between Friday and Sunday.
With an additional $60 million-plus from streaming on Disney Plus (at $29.99 for subscribers), and $78 million in international theaters, the long-awaited Marvel spin-off has landed an impressive global total of more than $218 million so far.
According to Disney, the action-packed spy thriller is the only film to surpass $100 million in domestic consumer spend on its first weekend since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Black Widow is also the largest domestic box office weekend opening since Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker in December 2019.
Like other movies, the female superhero stand-alone film was originally slated to premiere in May 2020 but was delayed three times due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the film’s box office record proves the influence of the only female avenger and the enthusiasm of movie watchers despite the restraints of COVID-19.
“It’s incredible to see audiences enjoying Black Widow after two years without a new Marvel Studios film, and this spectacular opening weekend shows just how eager fans have been to see this beloved Avenger in her own story,” said Alan Bergman, the Chairman of Disney Studios Content.
The film has not yet been granted a release date in China, where Beijing is seeking to boost domestic summer blockbusters.
Meanwhile, far behind Black Widow in second place was Universal's action thriller F9: The Fast Saga, at $11.4 million, down by roughly half from last weekend's take. In third was its animated sequel The Boss Baby: Family Business, at $8.9 million. Horror film The Forever Purge placed fourth, at $7.1 million. And in fifth was Paramount's A Quiet Place: Part II, at $3.2 million, pushing its domestic total near $150 million in its seventh week.