Marvel's Black Widow smashes pandemic box office records

Marvel movie Black Widow has incentivized the worldwide box office with impressive theatrical grosses of $215 million. This includes $80M in domestic box office takings and $78M in international box office takings (£6.89 million of which came from the UK and Ireland opening weekend).

Black Widow's triumphant debut is worth celebrating for a number of reasons. It's the largest domestic box office opening since the COVID-19 pandemic began and the largest domestic opening weekend since Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker in December 2019.

Black Widow is the only film to surpass $100M on its domestic opening weekend since the start of the pandemic. It's also the highest domestic opening weekend for a Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) origin story after Black Panther ($202 million) and Captain Marvel ($153 million).

Marvel Phase Four is off to a strong start as a result of Black Widow's success, and all eyes are on the next release, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the 10 Rings (due out on September 3rd). Black Widow is the swansong for Scarlett Johansson's tenacious Natasha Romanoff and also acts as a platform for the vivacious and quick-witted operative Yelena (Oscar nominee Florence Pugh), whom we're expecting to see a lot more of as Marvel's Phase Four and Five stages proceed.

“It’s incredible to see audiences enjoying Black Widow after two years without a new Marvel Studios film," says Alan Bergman, chairman of Disney Studios Content, "and this spectacular opening weekend shows just how eager fans have been to see this beloved Avenger in her own story. There’s no question it’s been worth the wait – Cate Shortland, Scarlett Johansson, and the Marvel Studios team have delivered an exceptional film that continues a legacy of creative excellence as the Marvel Cinematic Universe expands and enters a new era."

Want to experience Natasha's final mission all over again? Then click here to book your tickets for Black Widow, on release now in Cineworld cinemas.