Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is on course to capture a huge opening take in its proverbial web as the highly anticipated animated superhero tentpole nears its theatrical premiere.
Per Deadline, Across the Spider-Verse is projected to earn $150 million at the global box office during its first three days in cinemas, which is in sync with early forecasts for the film. Overseas, the Into the Spider-Verse sequel is heading for a $60 million opening, with $20 million of that tally coming from China, a reliable market for Spider-Man movies and where the titular original grossed over $62 million following its 2018 release. Meanwhile, the feature-length title is expected to make $80-$90 million across 4,200 U.S. theaters.
If the projections hold true, it means that Across the Spider-Verse would enjoy an opening domestic take that’s over two-and-a-half times what Into the Spider-Verse made. (The 2018 film scored $35 million stateside during its first three days.) Additionally, Across the Spider-Verse will more than double The Little Mermaid’s expected second weekend gross, with the live-action Disney movie looking at a $40 million take. Like the first movie, a diverse turnout is expected, considering the sequel features several Spider-People from different backgrounds.
Across the Spider-Verse Arrives This Weekend
Across the Spider-Verse has already garnered very encouraging reviews before its wide release, earning a 94 percent critical rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with the consensus hailing its many thrills, visual appeal and teasing a cliffhanger conclusion ahead of 2024’s Beyond the Spider-Verse. The movie has also been hailed as the most anticipated summer blockbuster of 2023 ahead of other notable upcoming titles like Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One, The Flash and Barbie.
In Across the Spider-Verse, Miles Morales (Shamiek Moore) and Gwen Stacy (Hailee Steinfeld) go on an adventure through the multiverse to save every universe of Spider-People from the Spot (Jason Schwartzman) and a pending catastrophe. Miles meets the Spider-Society, led by Miguel O’Hara/Spider-Man 2099 (Oscar Isaac), to hatch a successful plan to defeat the Spot, but comes into conflict with them, leading him to contemplate life as Brooklyn’s chief protector. Daniel Kaluuya (Hobart “Hobie” Brown/Spider-Punk), Andy Samberg (Scarlet Spider), Issa Rae (Jessica Drew/Spider-Woman) and Karan Soni (Pavitr Prabhakar/Spider-Man India) also feature as Spider-People in the movie. Co-director Justin Thompson confirmed the presence of nearly 100 named characters in Across the Spider-Verse.
On May 30, Across the Spider-Verse enjoyed its star-studded red-carpet premiere at the Regency Village Theater in Los Angeles. The Sony Pictures Animation title’s post-production only wrapped up on May 21, ending a five-year journey to the big screen due to delays incurred by the COVID-19 pandemic and other issues. Across the Spider-Verse boasts one of the longest runtimes for an animated film ever at approximately 2 hours and 20 minutes.
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse opens in theaters on June 2.
Source: Deadline
