DOCTOR Strange in the Multiverse of Madness has become 2022’s highest-grossing movie at the box office so far, surpassing Matt Reeves’ The Batman.

The Sam Raimi-helmed sequel saw the return of original film stars Benedict Cumberbatch, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Benedict Wong, and Rachel McAdams. They were joined by Elizabeth Olsen and Marvel Cinematic Universe newcomer Xochitl Gomez as America Chavez. Reeves’ fresh take on the Caped Crusader saw Robert Pattinson star as the iconic hero.

Coming after the multiverse-opening Spider-Man: No Way Home, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness follows the MCU’s resident Master of the Mystic Arts as he is drawn into an adventure across different universes. Taking the young hero America Chavez under his protection, Strange (Cumberbatch) is forced to face fallen friends, twisted versions of himself, and new-yet-familiar versions of some of Marvel’s most beloved characters. And not long after surpassing Raimi’s three Spider-Man movies at the box office, Doctor Strange is set to break the records set by another superhero from a different universe.

As reported by Variety, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness has spent its third week at the top of the domestic and international box office charts, earning $342 million in North America and $461 million in international markets. In total, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness has now surpassed over $800 million in its complete box-office gross since its release on May 6th, making it the highest-grossing film of 2022 so far.

Multiverse of Madness surpassed the previous holder of the top spot, The Batman, by an estimated $35 million in its overall box-office gross, though it has still yet to surpass Reeves and Pattinson’s film domestically, as The Batman sits ahead of the Raimi-helmed sequel at an estimated $369 million.

The sequel’s performance is promising to Marvel Studios, whose releases made up 30% of 2021’s box-office takings as theaters gradually reopened following closures throughout the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. As Phase Four of the MCU made its theatrical debut following numerous delays and uncertainty, Marvel Studios’ dominated the domestic box-office of 2021, with Eternals, Black Widow, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, and Spider-Man: No Way Home placing themselves in the sixth, fourth, second, and first places respectively. No Way Home would also firmly place itself as the total highest-grossing film of 2021, becoming the first film to earn over one billion dollars at the box office since theaters reopened.

While Reeves and Pattinson’s future with The Batman is already guaranteed following the announcement of a sequel, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is a promising sign of Marvel Studios’ 2022 financial success, as audiences become more confident in returning to the theaters. The sequel also saw a major step in the MCU’s storytelling, as it further tied the studio’s television releases to its cinematic releases in importance with its continuation of the narrative of WandaVision, so the sequel’s success could inspire confidence in further integration.

With Thor: Love and Thunder and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever currently scheduled to hit theatres in 2022, Marvel Studios is seemingly set for further box-office success throughout the year. (source: screenrant.com)

(ROHN ROMULO)