Spider‑Man Rocket‑Fuels the Pandemic Era to the $1 Billion Club
Los Angeles—“Spider‑Man: No Way Home” just pulled a cinematic miracle: it became the first film released in the pandemic‑era to break the $1 billion mark worldwide. It achieved this in a stunning 12 days and is now tied with Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015) as the third‑fastest movie to hit that milestone. Only Avengers: Infinity War (2018, 11 days) and Avengers: Endgame (2019, 5 days) outran it.
Why It Matters
With COVID‑19’s omicron surge in full swing, a feature film topping $1 billion is a rare headline. Since Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019), it’s the only Hollywood motion picture to surpass that threshold.
From Bond to Battle
- No Time to Die (MGM) held the 2021 title with $774 million.
- Inside China, The Battle at Lake Changjin led with $902 million.
- Now No Way Home dethrones them all, becoming the most‑earned film of the year worldwide.
Doing it Without China
Perhaps the most eyebrow‑raising fact: No Way Home smashed that record without even showing in China, the world’s largest theater market.
Domestic Domination
On its second weekend, the film broadcasted an impressive $81 million across 4,336 North American venues—an achievement only a few pandemic‑era releases matched in all their theatrical lifespan.
Gapless Competition
Even as The Matrix Resurrections, Sing 2, and The King’s Man debuted nationwide, “No Way Home” stayed ahead in the box‑office race.
Box‑Office Numbers
- Domestic ten‑day total: $467 million—more than double Shang‑Chi’s $224 million.
- International haul: $121.4 million over the weekend.
- Global revenue now sits at $1.05 billion.
Sing 2’s Sweet Start
Animated hit Sing 2 had the best launch of all new releases, pulling $23.7 million on the dress‑down weekend and $41 million since Wednesday (late‑Dec 22). It’s a slightly inflated figure that includes a $1.6 million lift from Thanksgiving previews.
- Compared to its 2016 predecessor’s $54.9 million five‑day wrap, it’s a softer opening.
- Targeting families, it earned a stellar A+ CinemaScore—skillfully keeping hopes alive in a wary marketplace.
The Matrix Resurrections
Warner Bros’s sci‑fi swan song landed at third place, accumulating $12 million over eight theaters. It’s got 67% Rotten Tomatoes and a B- CinemaScore, but availability on HBO Max without a cost dampens the theatrics impact.
King’s Man and Other Gems
Disney/20th Century’s The King’s Man settled for $6.3 million over the weekend, while American Underdog hauled in $6.2 million since the holiday opening. Both received A+ CinemaScore ratings, but certain steadiness—especially from the worldwide side—might not keep them in this crowded season.
West Side Story & Licorice Pizza
Spielberg’s disaster movie West Side Story sits at third‑weekend spot #6, with $2.8 million for that period. Despite a 98% Rotten Tomatoes hit, it only eclipsed $12.7 million overseas.
Paul Thomas Anderson’s Licorice Pizza peeked from 786 theaters, amassing $2.32 million and taking a seventh‑place finish; a modest start in the overarching awards conversation.
Final Takeaway
No Way Home attacked the box‑office board like a vigilante, not only stitching the pandemic‑era box‑office into its own narrative, but also raising the bar for all upcoming glam movies. In a landscape where social distancing tech choices and streaming giants dominate, the teenager‑powered hero’s franchise has proven that the theater can still be a battlefield—and that kids, adults, and the occasional accountant can all gather for the popcorn and take away their own legacies.
