Deadpool and Wolverine is the first X-Men related movie to earn $1 billion

As soon as Deadpool and Wolverine landed in theaters, it was clear the film would topple box office expectations and managed to pull in over $200 million domestically in its opening weekend. The first two Deadpools did not cross $150 million in the same time frame. Now, just over two weeks after its release, the third Deadpool movie has surpassed $1 billion in worldwide ticket sales.

The only other R-rated movie to ever reach the billion-dollar mark is another comic book property, Joker. The DC movie earned $1.08 billion by the end of its theatrical run, which Deadpool and Wolverine looks to surpass on its way to becoming the most successful global R-rated movie of all time.

The Deadpool sub-franchise has spawned out of the X-Universe; the violent anti-hero first appeared in X-Men Origins: Wolverine, but was heavily revamped for his foul-mouthed solo treatment. None of the previous 13 mutant movies came close to raking in $1 billion at the global box office.

The three biggest X-Men money makers are all the films from the Deadpool trilogy, with both of the previous entries landing in the $780-$790 million range. So Deadpool himself is a big enough draw for Marvel fans, but the combination of the Merc with a Mouth and the return of a fan favorite X-Man, wearing his comic book accurate costume for the first time, made for an even wider appeal. Wolverine’s former best showing was with X-Men: Days of Future Past, for a solid $746 million global haul.

The mutant-based movies always had a devoted fanbase yet has historically failed to break box office records compared with other superhero franchises. Less than half of the 14 movies grossed over $500 million. Another significant factor for Deadpool and Wolverine’s strong box office showing is that it is the first feature led by mutant heroes to cross over into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. So, although this is the first Marvel X-Men related movie to hit the coveted billion-dollar mark, Deadpool and Wolverine is the 11th MCU entry to earn $1 billion worldwide.

Here are the other billion-dollar MCU movies:

1. Avengers: Endgame - $2.8 billion
2. Avengers: Infinity War - $2.05 billion
3. Spider-Man: No Way Home - $1.92 billion
4. The Avengers - $1.52 billion
5. Avengers: Age of Ultron - $1.4 billion
6. Black Panther - $1.37 billion
7. Iron Man 3 - $1.21 billion
8. Captain America: Civil War - $1.15 billion
9. Spider-Man: Far from Home - $1.13 billion
10. Captain Marvel - $1.13 billion

Deadpool and Wolverine still has some summer blockbuster momentum going for it and can shove its way passed a few MCU movies on the box office list. The massive movie universe, which now tallies up to 34 films when one includes the third Deadpool, is the only franchise in history to earn $30 billion in ticket sales.