It’s not exactly a record-breaking weekend, but Deadpool & Wolverine is proving that even in its sixth week, the Merc with a Mouth and the clawed mutant have staying power. This superhero blockbuster just crossed the $600 million mark domestically, making it only the 16th film to do so without adjusting for inflation. Over the Labor Day weekend, it pulled in an estimated $19.4 million, bringing its domestic total to an impressive $603.8 million, and a global haul north of $1.258 billion. That’s the sixth-best domestic showing for a superhero flick, ever.
Disney’s dominance doesn’t end there. Alien: Romulus, another offering from the House of Mouse, snagged the second spot with an estimated $11.2 million, pushing its domestic total to $90.6 million. Globally, this latest entry in the Alien franchise has amassed $293.5 million, a solid performance, especially for a long-running series.
‘Reagan’ vies for a spot amid mixed reviews
In the indie corner, Reagan, the Dennis Quaid-led biopic about the 40th president of the United States, debuted to better-than-expected numbers. Despite being panned by critics—holding a dismal 18% on Rotten Tomatoes—the film is estimated to have pulled in $10.07 million over the four-day weekend. That’s enough to put it in a three-way battle for third place with Twisters and It Ends With Us, each hovering just below $10 million. It’s worth noting that Reagan has found its strongest support in the Midwest, with older, predominantly white audiences making up 85% of its viewers.
Female-driven hits and summer saviors
Summer may be winding down, but female-led stories are still pulling in strong numbers. Sony’s It Ends With Us, the film adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s novel, has been a quiet storm, with a domestic total of $135.8 million and an additional $150 million from international markets. Despite behind-the-scenes drama involving director-star Justin Baldoni and star-producer Blake Lively, the film continues to resonate with audiences, especially on social media.
Then there’s Twisters, which, in its own right, has been a summer blockbuster. With an estimated domestic total of $260.4 million, the film is one of the season’s unexpected hits.
Labor Day box office overview
While Labor Day weekend has never been a big moneymaker in theaters, this year has seen a particularly topsy-turvy end to the summer season. The domestic box office is currently sitting at an estimated $3.66 billion, marking a 10.6% dip from last year. However, some analysts feared it would be much worse, given the challenges the industry has faced.
As for other notable mentions, The Forge and Blink Twice are in a close race for sixth place, with both films pulling in around $6 million over the holiday weekend. Zoë Kravitz’s directorial debut with Blink Twice, starring Channing Tatum, continues to struggle despite its star power, while The Forge is finding a modest audience.
