Valentine’s Day Sees Major Marvel Release Amid Box Office Competition

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — As Valentine’s Day approaches, moviegoers will have an exciting four-day weekend featuring Marvel Studios’ latest superhero film, Captain America: Brave New World, co-produced with Sony and StudioCanal. With a budget of $180 million, the film is expected to open with impressive box office numbers, potentially generating $80 million domestically over the three-day weekend and $94 million over the entire four-day holiday.

The film continues the story of Sam Wilson, portrayed by Anthony Mackie, who takes up the Captain America mantle following Steve Rogers’ departure. This latest installment is anticipated to deliver a grounded political thriller, akin to Marvel’s Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014), rather than embracing the multiverse trend seen in recent films.

“The sell here is Red Hulk and Mackie’s big-screen debut as Captain America,” a marketing expert highlighted, emphasizing the film’s unique angle. Anticipation has been building as Brave New World arrives in theaters after a tumultuous production plagued by industry strikes and release date shifts.

Initially slated for a summer release on May 3, 2024, the film’s premiere was moved several times before landing this weekend. Director Julius Onah (known for The Cloverfield Paradox) helmed this entry into the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). “The strike allowed us to hone in on what we needed to work on and what we wanted to fix,” Mackie noted regarding the unforeseen delays.

As for ticket sales, pre-sales for Brave New World are currently 10%-15% behind last year’s Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania but approximately 40% ahead of the 2021 film Eternals. By the end of Friday, advance ticket sales are expected to reach around $20 million, with previews starting at 2 p.m. on Thursday.

The film is also poised for an extensive international rollout, launching Wednesday in significant markets including France, Korea, and Italy, before expanding to Germany, Brazil, and Australia on Thursday, and to the UK, China, Spain, and Japan on Friday. Major stakeholders project the international earnings could reach $110 million.

Competing for audience attention this weekend is the much-anticipated fourth installment of Paddington, titled Paddington in Peru, which is expected to bring in $15 million to $17 million over the four-day weekend. The animated feature has already garnered an impressive $104 million globally since its premiere abroad, with a target audience of families.

While Brave New World will primarily attract male audiences, particularly families with boys, Paddington in Peru is set up as counterprogramming appealing to families with younger children, especially given the success of both the character and previous films in the franchise.

Mackie expressed excitement about his new role, which includes not only action-packed sequences but also heartfelt moments that resonate with audiences. “This movie has a lot of heart, a lot of emotion,” he stated, emphasizing that the film dives into complex human experiences, even while donning a superhero costume.

The demand for timely and pertinent themes resonates strongly, with Mackie expressing pride in portraying a character that embodies hope for many. “For me, Captain America represents the good in everyone,” he said, showcasing a profound connection between the character and audiences worldwide.

As distributors and exhibitors feel optimistic about the box office outcome this weekend, industry watchers are monitoring the performances of both films closely, each vying for prominence in theaters during this holiday season.