When You’re raking in the mega-millions, you can literally afford to consider your film’s box-office performance “nonsense and noise.”
Now, thanks to the strong bow of his “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2” — which topped the domestic market with a $145 million debut — writer-director James Gunn has that distinct luxury.
“As we open up around the world, I would be lying if I said I don’t get distracted by the numbers,” Gunn acknowledged Saturday on social media. “The first thing I do in the morning is roll over in bed and check my phone for the morning box office reports.”
Yet in turning personal, Gunn also wrote: “As the Internet discusses box office and its many theories around what that means (zzzzzzzz), I’d like to remember that that’s truly all nonsense and noise.”
Of course, Gunn is already signed up for a third “Guardians” film — and is also involved in helping shape the Marvel Cinematic Universe ahead of next year’s “Avengers: Infinity War” — largely because his creative space-rock visions can deliver big audiences. Box office might be secondary to his auteur’s spirit, but Disney/Marvel surely loves the ring of those big numbers.
In the North American market, “Guardians 2” accounted for nearly 80 percent of the weekend’s top-10 gross, according to Box Office Mojo, based on studio estimates Sunday. Final numbers are due Monday. (And worth noting: “Guardians 2” is appearing on a whopping 4,347 North American screens — the 10th biggest total ever.)
The “Guardians” sequel also topped the domestic debut of Gunn’s original 2014 hit by nearly 54 percent.
“Guardians 2” has already grossed $427.6 million worldwide — and is on track to top the $773 million total for the series’s first film.
Comprising 15 films, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has now grossed $11.3 billion worldwide — far outpacing such franchises as Star Wars, Harry Potter and the Fast and the Furious.
On the Disney ledgers, all that “noise” signifies everything.
FUN FACTS
* Disney now has 10 of the top 25 domestic debuts ever (not adjusting for inflation), counting this year’s live-action “Beauty and the Beast” (No. 6, with $174.8 million) and “Guardians 2” (No. 17).
* Domestically, the biggest superhero film this year remains Fox’s “Logan” ($225 million).
Source: Washington Post