Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness Has Second-Best Global Box Office Opening Since Pandemic Began

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is having the second-best worldwide opening at the box office since the pandemic began. The Marvel Studios film earned at least $185 million in its first three days at the domestic box office, securing at least the 11th biggest domestic opening weekend of all time after posting the 7th-highest opening day total ever. The film is also grossing $265 million from 49 international markets, for a combined $450 million worldwide total. That's second only to Spider-Man: No Way Home in the pandemic era and the fourth-best start ever for a Marvel Cinematic Universe film.

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness has been well-liked by critics. ComicBook.com's Jenna Anderson called the film an "inventive" and "outrageous" turning point for the Marvel Cinematic Universe in her 4-out-of-5 review of the film:

"In the same way that Sam Raimi's Spider-Man helped cement what a modern superhero blockbuster could be, it feels like Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is one of the first postmodern superhero blockbusters. The film is tasked with being both a worthy follow-up to the complicated, decade-long storylines of two of Marvel's most mystical characters, as well as the gonzo foray into what are sure to be many, many more multiversal stories within the MCU. By and large, the film succeeds on both fronts, and its few stumbles are still vastly more entertaining than they could be in the hands of a lesser cast and crew. While viewers' mileage about some of the specifics of Multiverse of Madness will surely vary, there's nothing wrong with that — and if anything, it only illustrates a small amount of how complex and weird Marvel's pop culture presence can become. What anchors the project throughout are incredibly strong performances, enticing references to decades of the larger Marvel world, and the most compelling directing choices that Phase 4 of the franchise has had. To put it simply, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is the MCU equivalent of a heaping plate of food at a buffet — it'll give you a lot to chew on for the moment, but it's only a small sampling of the delicious things that are out there."

What do you think of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness's international success? Let us know what you think in the comments. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is playing now in theaters.