'Doctor Strange 2' mints $185 million at US box-office

Hollywood actorBenedict Cumberbatch-starrer Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness has raked in $185 million at North American movie theatres over the weekend, reaffirming the box-office dominance of Disney’s Marvel Cinematic Universe after a shakier, pandemic-battered year for the sprawling franchise.

The timeline-bending Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness represents a return to form for Disney’s MCU after Covid-era releases Black Widow ($80 million debut, plus $60 million on Disney Plus), Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings ($75 million debut) and Eternals ($71 million debut). Due to the pandemic and other extenuating circumstances, these failed to live up to their franchise predecessors in terms of ticket sales. However, Doctor Strange 2 easily delivered the biggest opening weekend of 2022, as well as the second-biggest debut in Covid times. Overseas, the film earned $265 million from 49 territories, taking the global total to $450 million.