Marvel has spent more than a decade turning opening weekends into events, and one of the most telling numbers is what a film makes on day one. That first Friday is pure hype, built on months of trailers, fan theories, and midnight showings.
The list below ranks the five highest opening days in Marvel history, counting only North American ticket sales rather than worldwide totals. For seven years, one movie’s record looked untouchable. Then Spider-Man: Brand New Day arrived on July 31, 2026, and knocked it off the top spot in a single night. Here is how the top five shake out, based on Box Office Mojo numbers.
5. Deadpool & Wolverine (2024) – $96.1 million
Nobody expected an R-rated Marvel movie to compete with the big team-up films. Deadpool & Wolverine opened to $96.1 million domestically in a single day. The pull was Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman finally sharing the screen, with Jackman returning as Wolverine years after fans thought Logan had closed the book on him.
It was also Marvel Studios’ only theatrical release that year, which turned it into a must-see event rather than one entry among several. The result was the biggest opening day ever recorded for an R-rated film.
4. Avengers: Infinity War (2018) – $106.3 million
Chris Evans as Captain America and other Avengers in Avengers: Infinity War | Credits: Marvel Studios
Avengers: Infinity War was the payoff for ten years of setup, and audiences treated it that way. The film pulled in $106.3 million on its opening day in North America, marking the highest opening day numbers up until that point for Marvel. The studio had spent a decade dropping hints about Thanos in post-credits scenes, and this was the movie where he finally showed up as the main event.
Nearly every hero the studio had introduced appeared on screen together. Then, there was the promise of a genuinely dark ending, and staying away from opening night meant risking spoilers everywhere you looked.
3. Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021) – $121.9 million
Tom Holland in a still from Spider-Man: No Way Home | Credits: Marvel Studios/Sony Pictures Releasing
Spider-Man: No Way Home landed during a period when many people were still avoiding theaters, which makes its $121.9 million opening day even more remarkable. The multiverse premise did the heavy lifting.
Rumors that Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield would appear alongside Tom Holland had been circulating for months, and the studio kept denying them right up to release. Fans essentially had to see it immediately or have the surprise ruined online. The film is widely credited with pulling audiences back into cinemas after a long slump.
2. Avengers: Endgame (2019) – $157.4 million
Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man in Avengers: Endgame | Credits: Marvel Studios
For seven years, Avengers: Endgame held the top spot in this category. Its $157.4 million opening day stood as the biggest in North American history, not just for Marvel but for any film. Following Infinity War‘s cliffhanger, the demand was enormous.
Theaters ran screenings through the night, tickets sold out weeks ahead, and the three-hour runtime did nothing to slow it down. Endgame also still holds the record for the best domestic opening weekend, at roughly $357 million, though even that mark is now under threat.
1. Spider-Man: Brand New Day (2026) – $168 million
Spider-Man: Brand New Day took the crown with $168 million on its first day across 4,487 theaters in North America, beating Endgame by around $11 million (via Variety). The story picks up from Peter Parker’s decision to have Doctor Strange wipe the world’s memory of him.
He is now on his own, with no MJ and no Ned, and the film brings in Sadie Sink, Jon Bernthal, Mark Ruffalo, Liza Colón-Zayas, and Tramell Tillman. Sony estimates a $325 million debut weekend, which would edge out Endgame‘s all-time opening weekend record too.
RankingMarvel MoviesDomestic Opening DayTotal Box Office1Spider-Man: Brand New Day (2026)$168 million–2Avengers: Endgame (2019)$157.4 million$2.799 billion3Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)$121.9 million$1.9 billion4Avengers: Infinity War (2018)$106.3 million$2.048 billion5Deadpool & Wolverine (2024)$96.1 million$1.338 billion
The fact that Spider-Man occupies two of the top three spots says a lot about who the studio’s biggest draw really is. Whether Brand New Day holds on to the weekend record is the more interesting question, and the final numbers will settle it soon.
Which of these openings surprised you the most? Let us know in the comments.
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