Deadpool and Wolverine Box Office Performance Makes it Highest Grossing R-Rated Movie Ever

Deadpool and Wolverine have officially dethroned the Joker. Not only is Deadpool & Wolverine Marvel Studios’ first R-rated entry into the MCU, but it’s also now the highest-grossing R-rated movie ever, based on the latest box-office numbers.

After just 23 days in theaters, the film, starring Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman as the iconic, dysfunctional duo, has raked in a global total of $1.086 billion. This achievement surpasses the previous record held by Joker, which earned $1.0789 billion worldwide.

While the film currently stands as the second highest-grossing movie of the year, trailing behind Inside Out 2, which has amassed $1.596 billion, it’s still a win for Disney, the distributor of both titles.

Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige marked this milestone with some playful notes from his desk. “Thanks for making Marvel Studios’ first R-rated movie the biggest of all time,” reads the first note atop the pile.

“It’s amazing to see that audiences are enjoying this movie as much as we loved creating it. All those conversations were worth it!”

Referring to those “conversations,” another note humorously addresses the banned drug names in Deadpool & Wolverine.

“To whom it may concern, Per my most recent telefax, the use of the aforementioned illegal substance shall not be shown, referenced, or implied in any Marvel Studios production,” the note reads.

“This restriction applies to any and all…”—one word is humorously obscured by Feige’s more formal comments—”…including but not limited to the following: Booker Sugar, Nose Beers, Bolivian Marching Powder, Forrest Bump, Snorp, Sniffy Lube, Nose Line, Nose Dive, A Low Blow, Blow and Arrow, Blow is Me, Blow Pop, Bumplestiltskin, Bumpty Dumpty, Dust Bowl, Dust Fund…”

In the film, there’s a scene where Reynolds’ character, Wade Wilson, listens to his roommate Blind Al (Leslie Uggams) recite an exhaustive list of cocaine nicknames, many of which appear in Feige’s note.

Deadpool & Wolverine*marks the first on-screen reunion of Reynolds’ Wade and Jackman’s Logan since 2009’s X-Men Origins: Wolverine. The film generated significant excitement, not just for reuniting the two characters, but also for coaxing Jackman out of his Marvel retirement following 2017’s Logan.

Reynolds and Jackman revealed that they are now looking into another project together, this time outside the Marvel universe. Meanwhile, the film’s director, Shawn Levy, shared that he’s “even more confident” about future collaborations with Marvel.