When one blockbuster film beats another blockbuster film for some major box office record, the directors of those films tend to acknowledge it with fun art. In 1977, when Star Wars beat Jaws at the all-time box office, Steven Spielberg congratulated George Lucas. In 1982, when E.T. beat Star Wars, Lucas returned the favor. This has gone on through the years with films like Jurassic Park, Titanic, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Avatar and, most recently, Avengers: Endgame, whether it’s the all-time box office tally or a specifically record-setting weekend. (Here’s a full thread.)
This past weekend, another record most thought completely insurmountable was surpassed. Grossing $360 million domestic over its opening few days, Spider-Man: Brand New Day snatched the record for highest-grossing opening weekend of all time, squeaking by the previous record set by Avengers: Endgame back in 2019 of $357 million.
Endgame’s opening was a full $100 million or so ahead of the next two films (which just so happened to be Avengers: Infinity War in 2018 and then Spider-Man: No Way Home in 2021), which meant $357 million seemed like a record that would last forever. But it did not. And so, in the grand tradition of Hollywood, Joe and Anthony Russo, the directors of Avengers: Endgame, took to social media to congratulate the team behind Spider-Man: Brand New Day with new art by Bosslogic.
“Huge congratulations to Destin, Tom, Zendaya, Jacob, Jon, Mark, Sadie, Florence, Michael, Marisa, producers Kevin, Amy, Avi, and Rachel, and the entire Spider-Man: Brand New Day cast and crew on making domestic box office opening weekend history. The gauntlet has been passed…” the post read.
Among the comments is Brand New Day director Destin Daniel Cretton, who said, “Love you guys.”
The question now becomes: will James Cameron or J.J. Abrams have to weigh in here? Cameron’s original Avatar remains the all-time global box office champion with a gross of $2.9 billion, and Abrams’ The Force Awakens is still the highest-grossing film domestically with $937 million. Each seems like a pretty lofty goal but, if anyone can swing it, it’s Spider-Man, with a little help from inflation.
Have you seen Brand New Day yet? What other records do you think it’ll hit? Let us know below.
Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.
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