Okay, we all know this: the Marvel movies aren’t just a fun time at the movies. They’re also raking in more money than God.
And according to figures compiled by Box Office Mojo and reported by Crave movie site /Film, Marvel’s opening weekend take from Captain America: The Winter Soldier has pushed the franchise into the no. 1 slot as the biggest movie series in U.S. box office history.
Let that sink in for a minute…in a word — wow.
Powered by Cap’s $92 million haul last weekend, the nine Marvel Cinematic Universe films have generated a hefty $2.46 billion in the U.S. since 2008’s Iron Man. That nudges the series just ahead of the $2.39 billion take of the eight Harry Potter films and well ahead of the $1.92 billion generated by the seven Star Wars pics (which includes the animated Star Wars: The Clone Wars, in case you were wondering).
Now, as /Film’s Germain Lussier points out, those totals don’t account for international receipts (where Harry Potter still reigns supreme) or inflation (which would push Star Wars and the 24 James Bond films up substantially).
However, considering follow-up Harry Potter and Star Wars films won’t start rolling out before at least four more Marvel movies launch — and the fact that Marvel is on an ungodly roll of public love that shows no current signs of slowing — that lead could balloon big time in the next 18 months or so.
So, how long until those Superpro and Kool-Aid Man flicks get greenlit, Marvel?