The Kang Dynasty is upon us. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania is the latest effort by the moneymaking machine of Marvel Studios; however, the newest entry and start of the next phase is not aiming to hit Spider-Man levels of box office gross. Variety is reporting that the Paul Rudd-led franchise is aiming for a $95 million to $100 million debut for its opening weekend domestically and $255 million for the global take.
The Ant-Man franchise has been one of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s more humble hits, but it is predicted to claim the number one spot at the box office with ease, overtaking last week’s Magic Mike’s Last Dance. At the international box office, the third movie of the Ant-Man trilogy is expected to make $35 million to $55 million at the China market, which is a big one for Hollywood blockbusters. It will be one of the rare Hollywood films and the second Marvel tentpole after Avengers: Endgame and Spider-man: Far from Home to be playing in Chinese theaters.
While these estimates put the film below other Marvel titles like Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness ($185 million), Thor: Love and Thunder ($144 million), and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever ($181 million), as historically, the Ant-Man character scores below his Avenger counterparts, this entry is looking to be the biggest of its trilogy with epic elements of other-worldly threats and the introduction of the newest villain, Kang, who is set to be the Thanos of this phase.
Marvel movies are usually in the positive with critics, but Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania currently has them somewhat split with a current 60% on Rottentomatoes. Having to jump-start a new phase while setting up a number of elements is a big undertaking for the film, and critics are taking notice of its task, with one critic saying, “An ant can carry 10-15 times its body weight, yet as the designated kick-off film tasked with setting up the next two-phase, multi-movie/TV arc, ‘Quantumania’ is still being crushed by having to bear way too much of a franchise burden.”
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania opens in theaters this Friday.