Marvel’s ‘Shang-Chi’ Scores Big Money at Box Office Domestic Debut

Marvel’s “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings,” starring Simu Liu, had a big opening weekend domestically, snaring $71.4 million, the second highest of the coronavirus pandemic.

The film was the first Marvel film to be shown exclusively in cinemas since the pandemic began.

The film also had the second-highest opening for any film released during the pandemic and the highest of any film released over Labor Day weekend.

Internationally, the film had tallied another $56.2 million in ticket sales. This means total sales were an estimated global total of $127.6 million for Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

The film has not yet been approved for release in China.

“Black Widow” currently holds the title for highest opening during the pandemic with $80 million.

The previous record-holder for highest release over the holiday weekend was 2007′s “Halloween.” That film had taken in $26.3 million during its first three days in theaters domestically.

“There is no doubt that the massive brand equity of Marvel boosted ‘Shang-Chi’s’ prospects,” said Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst at Comscore. ”[And] a perfectly executed theatrical-first strategy served to rev up interest and excitement among fans.”

Starring Simu Liu, Awkwafina and Hong Kong legend Tony Leung, it’s the first film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe with a primarily Asian cast.
Director Destin Daniel Cretton revealed to Inverse that Marvel’s kung fu superhero had no presence in his upbringing simply because his mother decreed such action-packed storylines off-limits.

“I was not aware of Shang-Chi,” the 42-year-old filmmaker said. “My mom would not have let me read Shang-Chi [comics,] because she was not into anything remotely close to violence.”