Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse Creates a Web of $17.4 Million in Box Office Preview, Defying Expectations

Once again, the ever-changing landscape of the weekend box office has witnessed the rise of a new contender. Following the somewhat middling performances of Fast X and The Little Mermaid, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, the eagerly awaited sequel to the critically acclaimed and financially successful movie Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, swings into action. This animated superhero sequel has unleashed its web-spinning prowess, capturing a remarkable $17.4 million during Thursday previews, establishing itself as the second-largest preview earnings ever for an animated movie, firmly trailing the triumphant steps of 2018's Incredibles 2.

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Incredibles 2, as we vividly recall, soared to become the crowned monarch of animated releases, amassing a staggering $608 million in domestic ticket sales, an unparalleled achievement in the history of animated films. While it may be overly optimistic to expect Across the Spider-Verse to scale such majestic heights, early projections indicate that it will amass less than half of Incredibles 2's opening weekend revenue of $182 million. Presently, the swirling predictions envisage Across the Spider-Verse to surpass the $80 million mark in its debut weekend. Yet, fueled by the immense buzz enveloping the film, it might surpass even the most audacious projections. A little while ago, The Super Mario Bros. Movie, a delightful surprise, defied the shackles of convention and amassed a staggering $204 million during its extended five-day debut, exceeding its initial estimate of $130 million.

If these marvels of speculation come to fruition, Across the Spider-Verse will effortlessly double the opening weekend earnings of its predecessor, Into the Spider-Verse, which webbed in $35 million. The original film, spinning its web across the cinematic realm, weaved a web of $190 million domestically and a global total of $384 million. While these figures may seem unassuming when compared to the box office performances of most major superhero movies, the likes of the widely acknowledged underperformer Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, which soared to a staggering $100 million more in earnings, it is of paramount importance to bear in mind that Into the Spider-Verse was crafted with a reported budget of only $90 million, a fraction of the financial burden carried by most major animated films.

Sony's Fearless Investment in the Film

Sony, the bold visionary, invested approximately $100 million in the audacious production of Across the Spider-Verse, while reserving millions more for its strategic marketing campaigns. This unabashed display of confidence appears to be yielding delightful results as the movie, like a spider in its web, not only enthralls audiences at the box office but also garners glowing accolades from critics. Across the Spider-Verse presently basks in the warm glow of a "fresh" rating of 96% on the revered review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes. In Collider's resounding appraisal, Ross Bonaime reveres it as "one of the best films of 2023." Let us not forget that Into the Spider-Verse, in a resplendent triumph, secured the illustrious Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, besting the remarkable Incredibles 2. However, while Across the Spider-Verse appears poised to outshine its predecessor in commercial triumph, the path to success during the illustrious awards season remains an enigma waiting to be unraveled.

The movie confidently exists, independent from the captivating live-action Spider-Man series starring the talented Tom Holland, weaving a narrative tapestry that continues the enthralling journey of Miles Morales, portrayed by the voice of the prodigious Shamiek Moore. In this mesmerizing multiverse-hopping escapade, Miles encounters an array of captivating Spider-people. Hailee Steinfeld joins Moore, portraying the indomitable Gwen Stacy, while the esteemed cast also includes Brian Tyree Henry, Luna Lauren Vélez, Jake Johnson, Jason Schwartzman, Issa Rae, Karan Soni, Daniel Kaluuya, and Oscar Isaac. Crafted under the watchful eyes of the beloved filmmakers Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, and guided by the visionary direction of Kemp Powers, Joaquim Dos Santos, and Justin K. Thompson, Across the Spider-Verse awaits your eager presence in theaters. Delve deeper into the world of this sensational film by immersing yourself in our exclusive interview with Lord and Miller here, and rest assured, Collider stands ready to deliver the latest updates on the mesmerizing box office performance throughout the weekend.