Marvel fans are among the most devoted fanbase in the history of pop-culture. It's no surprise really, especially when you factor in that Marvel movies and TV shows are literally based on comic books - a medium that inspires the most devoted fanbases you can imagine. Put all of that together and you have the biggest franchise imaginable. But the Marvel Cinematic Universe wouldn't have become the juggernaut that it is today without the popular films based on these characters that came beforehand.
Yes, Marvel characters have been around for a long time, entertaining us all on the big screen while making time to involve the man behind Marvel Comics himself, Stan Lee, in a multitude of cameos over the years. And even now, years later, fans can't get enough of Marvel - particularly due to the arrival of this year's Avengers: Doomsday and Spider-Man: Brand New Day, both of which are set to be major releases.
But as we all look ahead to what's to come from Marvel, the entertainment industry also gives audiences plenty of chances to reflect - particularly when it comes to important dates. And February 12 was one of the most important.
Deadpool officially turns 10 years old as fans celebrate its milestone anniversary
Deadpool is officially 10 years old. The beloved superhero action comedy film starring Ryan Reynolds as the Merc with a Mouth was released in theaters back on February 12, 2016, and it went on to make history - becoming the highest-grossing R-rated movie of all time (at the time) and grossing an incredible $782 million against a budget of $58 million. Considering the character wasn't all that well-known to mainstream audiences at the time of the film's release, we'd say that's a pretty darn impressive debut.
Up until this point, Deadpool was best known to non-comic book fans for his infamous supporting role in 2009's X-Men Origins: Wolverine in which, ironically, Ryan Reynolds actually played the role. This portrayal wasn't comic-accurate in the slightest and has gone down in history as one of the worst comic book portrayals of all time - not because of Reynolds, but because the powers that be made the unusual decision to sew the Merc With A Mouth's mouth shut. So Deadpool wasn't very Deadpool.
Reynolds fought hard after this to get a solo Deadpool movie made, even campaigning for it to be rated R so that it could be like the mature comics upon which it was based. On February 12, 2016, he made it happen as Deadpool arrived in theaters to fan and critics' approval, reinventing Wade Wilson by staying true to his roots. The outrageous violence, over-the-top humor, and fourth-wall-breaking madness - along with the emotional love story between Reynolds' Wade and Morena Baccarin's Vanessa - captured people's attention, and there was no going back after this. Deadpool had been unleashed.
It was also the start of an incredible, decade-long journey that would ultimately bring the man known as Wade Wilson - and all of the fourth-wall breaking theatrics that come with him - to the MCU. Although the first two Deadpool movies were produced by 20th Century Fox at the time - and existed as part of Fox's X-Men franchise - the Disney / Fox merger in 2019 allowed Disney / Marvel Studios to regain the movie rights to the X-Men, Fantastic Four and, of course, Deadpool. It all paved the way for a third Deadpool movie - this time set in the MCU.
Deadpool and Wolverine reunited Reynolds with Hugh Jackman, who reprised the role of Logan, a.k.a. Wolverine himself, for the first time in nearly a decade - marking the official MCU debut of both characters. The film was a roaring success, grossing an incredible $1.3 billion and offering up the MCU's biggest success story since 2021. It was a victory that everyone needed - and one that wouldn't have been possible without the success of the first Deadpool movie all those years ago.
Deadpool is now an active part of the MCU and, with rumors of a return in Avengers: Doomsday and / or Avengers: Secret Wars aplenty (along with reports that he and Wolverine might receive a sequel in the not-too-distant future), it's clear that his story is only just beginning. Not bad for a decade after his cinematic debut. Not bad at all.