‘Deadpool & Wolverine' snares $38.5 million in Thursday previews, on pace for record opening

• Disney and Marvel's "Deadpool & Wolverine" snared $38.5 million in Thursday previews.
• The latest entrant in the Marvel Cinematic Universe is one of the most anticipated releases of 2024 and the first R-rated film in the comic book franchise.
• The film, staring Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman, is expected to tally between $160 million and $180 million during its domestic debut.

Disney and Marvel's "Deadpool & Wolverine" has secured $38.5 million in Thursday previews and is on pace for a domestic debut north of $150 million, which would be a record for an R-rated film.

The latest entrant in the Marvel Cinematic Universe is one of the most anticipated releases of 2024 and the first R-rated film in the comic book franchise. The preview haul was the eighth largest ever, and the highest for an R-rated release.

"Thursday previews have become an integral part of the release strategy for most major studio releases," said Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst at Comscore. "Thursday previews not only provide early access to eager fans who can't wait to see the latest blockbuster on the big screen ahead of their official debut, but also provide a key indicator of the potential opening weekend box office to the studios, analysts and journalists alike."

Blockbuster comic book and franchise films often see significantly higher Thursday night ticket sales, as fans seek to see the film early on its opening weekend to avoid spoilers. Thursday night preview numbers are folded into Friday's box office haul and calculated as part of a film's three-day opening weekend.

"Deadpool & Wolverine" is expected to tally between $160 million and $180 million at the domestic box office during its debut.

This haul would mark the highest opening weekend for a film in 2024 and the biggest debut of an R-rated film ever.

"Deadpool and Wolverine" is the 34th film to be released under the MCU banner and the first to garner an R-rating from the Motion Picture Association. The previous two Deadpool films, both rated R, were produced and released through 20th Century Fox. Disney acquired the company in 2019, bringing the X-Men and Fantastic Four back into the larger Marvel portfolio.

Movie theater operators told CNBC they do not expect the R-rating to deter moviegoers. In fact, it is likely a selling point for the film.

"'Deadpool & Wolverine' might prove to be a jack of all trades for Disney and Marvel after the studios eased off the gas pedal with fewer releases across theatrical and streaming recently," said Shawn Robbins, founder and owner of Box Office Theory. "That may be parlayed into renewed interest for this next event-level story, which also isn't meant to be a film requiring homework for the casual or uninitiated."

"Deadpool & Wolverine" is the first MCU film to be released since November of last year and will be the only 2024 release from Marvel Studios. Currently, there are four MCU releases slated for 2025, one for 2026 and one for 2027.

However, Marvel is set to present a panel at this weekend's San Diego Comic Con and during Disney's D23 Expo in August, so the calendar could be altered. Changes could come after the firing of Kang actor Jonathan Majors — who was set to play the major villain in the coming sequence of films — and production delays caused by last year's actors and writers strikes.