Deadpool‘s success continues to reach new heights. Following the movie’s opening in new international markets this weekend, it’s now expected to top $500 million at some point today.
As of the end of this weekend, Deadpool‘s worldwide box office gross has reached $491.7 million, according to Variety. It came in first for the second straight weekend in the US with an estimated $55 million according to Box Office Mojo, far outpacing the competition (Kung Fu Panda 3 was number two with $12.5 million and Risen was number three with $11.8 million). This weekend also marked its opening in a number of new countries, including South Korea, Spain, and Italy. In all, it debuted in first in 17 new markets.
Variety notes that Deadpool‘s box office totals are hurt by its ban in China, the world’s second-biggest movie market. Still, considering its R rating in the US and budget of only $58 million, Deadpool has proven to be a huge success. A sequel has already been greenlit, but the first movie’s writers have indicated they aren’t planning to seek a massive budget as a result of this success.
“We don’t want $150 million to go make the next movie, that’s not Deadpool,” Paul Wernick said last week. “Deadpool doesn’t lift cities up into the air or battle aliens coming down to earth, that’s just not Deadpool. So we’re happy in that little small budget range that they have us in; we don’t wanna blow this next one out.”
For more on Deadpool, check out GameSpot’s review.