With early estimates for this weekend’s box office takings coming in, it’s being reported that Marvel’s latest superhero blockbuster Doctor Strange has enjoyed an $85 million opening at the North American box office, falling just short of Thor: The Dark World’s $85.7 million November debut back in 2013.
Internationally, Doctor Strange has added $118.7 million this weekend, of which $44.4 million from China, the largest opening weekend for the first instalment of any superhero franchise. Given its international takings from last weekend, the Phase Three origin story is now sitting on $325.4 million worldwide, meaning it’s already overtaken Marvel’s lowest grossing release The Incredible Hulk ($263.4 million) and has Captain America: The First Avenger ($370.6 million) in its sights for this week.
Marvel’s Doctor Strange follows the story of the talented neurosurgeon Doctor Stephen Strange who, after a tragic car accident, must put ego aside and learn the secrets of a hidden world of mysticism and alternate dimensions. Based in New York City’s Greenwich Village, Doctor Strange must act as an intermediary between the real world and what lies beyond, utilizing a vast array of metaphysical abilities and artifacts to protect the Marvel cinematic universe.
Doctor Strange is out now in the UK and is set for release on November 4th in the US, with Scott Derrickson (Sinister) directing a cast that includes Benedict Cumberbatch (Sherlock) as Stephen Strange, Tilda Swinton (Snowpiercer) as The Ancient One, Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 Years a Slave) as Baron Mordo, Benedict Wong (The Martian) as Wong, Rachel McAdams (True Detective) as Christine Palmer, Mads Mikkelsen (Hannibal) as Kaecilius and Benjamin Bratt (The Infiltrator) as Jonathan Pangborn and Scott Adkins (Ninja: Shadow of a Tear) as Lucian.
