Marvel's 'Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3' Currently Tracking At An Estimated $130 Million Opening

If tracking estimates hold, it looks like Marvel Studios will have a new $100 million+ opening weekend next month. Deadline reports that the upcoming Marvel Cinematic Universe sequel, "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3," is currently tracking at a $130 million opening weekend.

It puts the MCU sequel well ahead of the original film's opening weekend in August 2014, when it opened with about $94 million. However, it's behind the opening weekend of the first sequel, "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2," which opened to $146 million for its opening weekend in May 2017.

"Guardians of the Galaxy" finished with $333 million domestically and $772 million worldwide. The sequel outdid the original, making $389.8 million domestically and $863 million worldwide in 2017.

Deadline notes that distribution sources have stated that the upcoming sequel's marketing campaign hasn't hit all cylinders yet, so they are not worried yet, despite the lower projected Opening than the second film. Thus far, the most significant Marvel Studios opening weekend post-pandemic is $260.1 million for "Spider-Man: No Way Home," released in December 2021. Meanwhile, "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness" came in second when released last summer and opened to $187.4 million.

The new movie will mark writer and director James Gunn's final installment in his "Guardians of the Galaxy" trilogy. At one point, it looked like he would not return to the franchise when he was fired from Marvel Studios in July 2018 after some controversial tweets resurfaced. He was later reinstated to Marvel Studios the following year. However, he then directed a DC comic book movie, "The Suicide Squad," for Warner Bros. and DC Entertainment. He is also heading up DC Studios for Warner Bros. alongside Peter Safran after being promoted last year.

Following the release of "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3," Gunn will be directing his focus to the DC Universe at DC Studios, as he's gearing up a new live-action "Superman" movie currently titled, "Superman: Legacy." Gunn is now attached to write and direct the film due on July 11, 2025.

Ahead of "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3," Gunn also directed "The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special," which debuted on the Disney+ app last November. "Vol. 3" is also expected to be actor Dave Bautista's final performance as Drax the Destroyer before he bids goodbye to the role and Marvel Studios. The upcoming sequel also stars Chris Pratt Star-Lord/Peter Quill, Zoe Saldana as Gamora, Bradley Cooper as the voice of Rocket, Vin Diesel as the voice of Groot, Karen Gillan as Nebula, and Chukudi Iwuji ("Peacemaker") as The High Evolutionary. The sequel will also introduce Will Poulter as Adam Warlock.

https://youtu.be/JqcncLPi9zw

Marvel Studios and parent company Disney likely have a lot riding on "Vol. 3" after the tepid critical and box office performance of "Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania" from earlier this year. The Marvel threequel scored a Rotten rating of 47% on Rotten Tomatoes. It also underperformed at the box office, bringing in only $212 million domestically and only $474 million globally. If "Vol. 3" performs well, it can dissuade much of the criticism and negativity surrounding Marvel Studios.

The good news for the sequel and Marvel is that it will have two weekends to dominate the box office before "Fast X," the latest installment of the "Fast and Furious" franchise, hit theaters later in the month on May 19. "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3" arrives in theaters on May 5.