Deadpool & Wolverine look set to sink their claws into the summer box office in a major way. The Marvel Cinematic Universe film is on the verge of setting a new R-rated film mark during its anticipated opening weekend.

Per The Hollywood Reporter, Deadpool & Wolverine is on track to gross between $160 million and $165 million domestically during its first weekend on Jul. 26-28. Should projections hold, the upcoming Phase Five MCU blockbuster would begin its theatrical run with the highest-earning opening weekend of any movie released in 2024. Furthermore, Deadpool & Wolverine would shatter the record for the best opening ever for an R-rated film, beating the first Deadpool installment, which made $133.7 million during its first weekend in 2016.

News of Deadpool & Wolverine‘s potentially record-breaking weekend builds on recent reports that the Shawn Levy-helmed flick garnered record ticket pre-sales numbers for AMC, becoming the theater chain’s fastest-selling R-rated title ever. Considering Deadpool & Wolverine came into 2024 as the most anticipated movie of the year, it’s little surprise the team-up film has been attracting seismic box-office forecasts. Marvel hopes the film beats Dune: Part Two‘s pace-setting tally ($711 million) and restores much-needed goodwill to the MCU following recent disappointments.

Deadpool and Wolverine Unite in the Crossover Film

Starring Ryan Reynolds’ “Merc With a Mouth” and Hugh Jackman’s Logan, Deadpool & Wolverine continues to be hyped as a potential MCU savior, considering the stakes involved. Marvel president Kevin Feige recently called said stakes “universe-sized,” considering the film sees its titular rebels embark on a Multiverse-altering mission that could transform the MCU’s future. Additionally, Levy insisted Deadpool & Wolverine would mirror some of the MCU’s early entries, promising the pic is more character-driven than recent films.

Deadpool & Wolverine also stars Emma Corrin, Jennifer Garner, Brianna Hildebrand, Karan Soni, Morena Baccarin and Stefan Kapičić. The film is also expected to introduce several X-Men affiliates and villains into the MCU, and feature celebrity cameos, with Taylor Swift’s potential appearance especially keeping fans in a frenzy. The movie would not have happened if Jackman hadn’t indicated his desire to return as Wolverine, having last played the role in the Oscar-nominated Logan.

Depending on how Deadpool & Wolverine performs in cinemas, Levy has hinted at a potential sequel to the Marvel effort. Additionally, Reynolds and Jackman may appear in the MCU beyond Deadpool & Wolverine, with Reynolds teasing an appearance in Avengers 5.

Deadpool & Wolverine opens in theaters on Jul. 26.