Spider-Man: Brand New Day is rewriting box office history in real time. Sony and Marvel Studios’ latest Spidey instalment is tracking for an all-time opening day between $167 million and $173 million — a figure that would comfortably surpass Avengers: Endgame‘s long-standing first-day record of $157.4 million and leave Spider-Man: No Way Home‘s $121.96 million Friday opening well behind.
The previews alone told the story before Friday even arrived. Late-evening walk-up business on Thursday exploded in a way sources describe as rare for any studio — Sony reportedly couldn’t count the money fast enough. Preview earnings landed at $72 million, obliterating the former all-time preview record of $60 million set by Avengers: Endgame in 2019. That figure includes Prime Video members’ early access Wednesday screenings and showtimes beginning Thursday at noon — a broader window than Endgame’s Thursday 6pm start.
With the $72 million preview night established, Brand New Day is guaranteed to join a very short list of films with a $100 million-plus first Friday including previews. The only five films to previously achieve that: Avengers: Endgame ($157.4 million), Spider-Man: No Way Home ($121.96 million), Star Wars: The Force Awakens ($119.1 million), Avengers: Infinity War ($106.3 million), and Star Wars: The Last Jedi ($104.6 million).
PostTrak exit polls from Thursday night recorded five stars from general audiences, parents, and children under 12.
Can It Beat Endgame’s Weekend Record?
The $357.1 million all-time opening weekend record set by Avengers: Endgame is within reach — but not yet confirmed. The most reliable current estimate puts Brand New Day‘s weekend at north of $330 million, which would make it the second-best opening in North American box office history behind Endgame and well ahead of No Way Home‘s $260.1 million debut in 2021.
The path to Endgame’s record requires Friday — excluding previews — to come in around $100 million. If Saturday holds flat with another $95-100 million and Sunday declines the typical 15-16%, the numbers begin to reach record territory. Industry sources say the hourly figures for Brand New Day have been pulling ahead of No Way Home‘s pace throughout the day. The film is playing at 4,487 theatres, with major multiplexes essentially running a two-film schedule alongside The Odyssey. AMC Lincoln Center in New York has 36 showings of Brand New Day today; AMC Century City in Los Angeles has 40; Regal Sherman Oaks has 43; and Regal L.A. Live has 44.
Even at the lower end — if the weekend comes in around $280 million — that would still represent the second-best superhero opening of all time and $20 million ahead of No Way Home.
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The Wider Market — Records Everywhere
The broader North American marketplace this weekend is also tracking toward an all-time record, potentially exceeding the $402 million total set across all films during Avengers: Endgame‘s opening frame in April 2019. Industry estimates place the weekend total between $407 million and $412 million.
Premium large format records are falling across the board. The 4DX format is tracking for a $4.5 million opening weekend record — its best ever, beating The Super Mario Galaxy Movie — following all-time preview records of $1.3 million. ScreenX, which Brand New Day was specifically shot for, is tracking toward a record $4 million weekend after beating Deadpool & Wolverine‘s format-record preview night of $1.3 million.
The Odyssey is performing remarkably well against the competition. Christopher Nolan’s epic is tracking for an estimated $52 million third weekend — down 42% — which would be the best third frame for any Nolan film since The Dark Knight‘s $42.6 million in its third weekend. Its running domestic total reaches approximately $396.5 million by Sunday, putting it within striking distance of $400 million domestically. The Odyssey‘s second week of $145 million was the best second week of any Nolan film ever, ahead of The Dark Knight‘s $112.4 million.
This Week’s Box Office Top Five
- The Odyssey (Universal) — $145M week 2 total, running $344.4M
- Moana (Disney) — $17.5M week 3, running $109.4M
- Toy Story 5 (Disney/Pixar) — $16.8M week 6, running $455.3M
- Minions and Monsters (Universal/Illumination) — $16.75M week 4, running $162.5M
- Hadestown (BST) — $16.2M in its first week
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