Paul Rudd is returning to the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Ant-Man in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. The film is going to reignite things at the movie theater box office. Expectations are high for the third Ant-Man movie. The film has an estimate of $95 million to $100 million gross throughout the opening weekend in North America. Extending estimates to President's Day on Monday brings the anticipated gross to $110 million. It will likely take the number one spot from Magic Mike's Last Dance. Internationally, Quantumania estimates range from $130 million to $190 million, with an overall estimate of $160 million.
According to domestic box office estimates, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania will likely gross lower than recent Marvel titles like Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness ($185 million), Thor: Love and Thunder ($144 million) and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever ($181 million). This isn't uncommon for Ant-Man movies. However, Quantumania is getting a huge spike compared to the previous films centered around the micro-superhero. The original Ant-Man grossed at $57 Million. Its sequel, Ant-Man, and the Wasp, grossed $76 million domestically and $161 million on a global scale.
Quantumania Takes Off
In the film, Ant-Man, his daughter, the Wasp, and others are sent to a mysterious Quantum Realm, which defies the laws of space and time. Evangeline Lilly, who plays the Wasp, has returned for Quantumania. Additionally, Michelle Pfeiffer and Michael Douglass are coming back to the franchise. Jonathan Majors will star as Kang the Conqueror. Plus, Kathryn Newton will play Scott Lang’s daughter, and William Jackson Harper will play Quaz. The film is the 31st installment of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It will kick off Phase Five and introduce the true nature of Kang the Conquerer.
Reviews vary for the film. According to Rolling Stone, “An ant can carry 10-15 times its body weight, yet as the designated kick-off film tasked with setting up the next two-phase, multi-movie/TV arc, ‘Quantumania’ is still being crushed by having to bear way too much of a franchise burden.” However, in Variety's review, chief film critic Owen Gleiberman praised the work of Jonathan Majors. He said, “With no motion-capture makeup to hide behind, Jonathan Majors holds you with the quiet force of his pensive scowl. You hang on his every word; he makes vengeance and genocide sound like the most hypnotically casual of propositions.”
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