Marvel’s Eternals was met with a polarizing response from critics when it was released last November but it also demonstrated the power of Marvel to overcome lukewarm revies. Despite a 48% rotten score on Rotten Tomatoes, Eternals still managed to pull in $401.1 million globally and it looks like its success is continuing on the Disney+ streaming platform.
Per The Direct, Eternals had the biggest premiere for an MCU movie on Disney+. According to data gathered by Samba TV, Eternals has been viewed by 2 million U.S. households in its first five days which allowed it to break the record for the biggest MCU debut on the platform. The record was previously held by Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.
When comparing this to other streaming data gathered by Samba TV, Eternals scored less in its first five days on Disney+ than films like The Suicide Squad or The Matrix Resurrections on HBO Max. The caveat here is that both of those films went day-and-date on streaming and in theaters and their theatrical openings came in far less than Eternals, which was released exclusively in theaters to an opening of $71.2 million. In fact, the theatrical opening of Eternals topped their theatrical opening weekends combined so it was allowed to have an impressive box office run along with a performance on streaming that has so far started on the right foot. Audiences who were on the fence about seeing Eternals in theaters are now checking it out on streaming and those who gave it a shot in theaters, and may have been disappointed, are giving it another shot at home. I found Eternals to be lacking in many ways but I’ve always felt that this would be an MCU release that would find its audience eventually and would be the subject of some reevaluation down the line.
As per the official synopsis, “Marvel Studios’ “Eternals” welcomes an exciting new team of Super Heroes to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The epic story, spanning thousands of years, features a group of immortal heroes forced out of the shadows to reunite against mankind’s oldest enemy, The Deviants. The outstanding ensemble cast includes Richard Madden as the all-powerful Ikaris, Gemma Chan as humankind-loving Sersi, Kumail Nanjiani as cosmic-powered Kingo, Lauren Ridloff as the super-fast Makkari, Brian Tyree Henry as the intelligent inventor Phastos, Salma Hayek as the wise and spiritual leader Ajak, Lia McHugh as the eternally young, old-soul Sprite, Don Lee as the powerful Gilgamesh, Barry Keoghan as aloof loner Druig, and Angelina Jolie as the fierce warrior Thena. Kit Harington plays Dane Whitman.”
Did you check out Eternals on Disney+?