Dazzling debut for Black Widow

Disney and Marvel’s superhero adventure Black Widow captured a massive $80 million in its first weekend, crushing the benchmark for the biggest opening weekend since the pandemic.

In a first for the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the film opened simultaneously in theatres and on Disney Plus as part of the streaming service’s Premier Access offering, where subscribers can rent Black Widow for an extra $30. Disney reported that Black Widow generated more than $60 million “in Disney Plus Premier Access consumer spend globally,” marking the rare occasion in which a studio discloses revenues for digital rentals. Overseas, Black Widow collected $78 million in its debut, boosting its global box-office haul to $158 million.

Disney didn’t share viewership data for the previously released Cruella starring Emma Stone and the animated Raya and the Last Dragon, which also premiered simultaneously in theaters and on Disney Plus. It’s unclear if Disney will continue to report digital rentals for the upcoming action adventure Jungle Cruise, which opens in cinemas and on Disney Plus on July 30. — Reuters