Marvel’s latest adventure, Captain America: Brave New World, is set to dominate the box office this weekend. The highly anticipated film, starring Anthony Mackie as the new Captain America, is targeting a strong opening of $80 million to $85 million over the traditional weekend, with projections reaching $90 million to $95 million through the President’s Day holiday. The film, which cost over $180 million to produce, is hitting around 4,100 theaters across North America.
Internationally, Brave New World is expected to rake in an additional $110 million, although it will face competition from the hugely successful Ne Zha 2, which has earned over $1.1 billion in China, as well as Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy, which is playing theatrically worldwide but is heading straight to Peacock in the U.S.
Despite this competition, Captain America: Brave New World is poised to score the biggest domestic debut of the year, with ticket sales expected to surpass 2021’s Eternals ($71 million), Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings ($75 million), and 2023’s The Marvels ($46 million). However, the debut is still below some of Marvel’s major hits, such as Thor: Love and Thunder ($144 million), Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness ($187 million), Black Panther: Wakanda Forever ($181 million), and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 ($118 million).
Following recent struggles at the box office, including underperforming films like Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania and The Marvels, Captain America: Brave New World offers a much-needed boost for Marvel Studios. The film continues the story after Avengers: Endgame and the Disney+ series The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, where Sam Wilson (Mackie) takes on the mantle of Captain America. As the new hero faces a global crisis with President Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross (Harrison Ford), the stakes are high. Directed by Julius Onah (The Cloverfield Paradox), the film also features a thrilling narrative about Sam’s leadership and responsibility.
In addition to Captain America, family-friendly contender Paddington in Peru is also opening this weekend. The third installment of the beloved bear’s adventures is projected to earn $15 million to $17 million over the four-day weekend. Paddington 3 has already earned $103 million internationally, with the first two films in the franchise performing well globally.
Directed by Dougal Wilson, Paddington in Peru follows the marmalade-loving bear as he visits his Aunt Lucy in Peru. The film has garnered positive reviews, with Variety’s Guy Lodge calling it “fast and buoyant and disarmingly sunny.” The live-action cast includes Hugh Bonneville, Emily Mortimer, Antonio Banderas, and Olivia Colman, with Ben Whishaw returning to voice Paddington.
As Captain America: Brave New World and Paddington in Peru dominate the box office, audiences are in for a weekend of action and family-friendly fun.