Although restrictions have been gradually lifting around the world, rising concerns over the Delta variant have seen cinema audiences taking a hit these past few weeks and while several studios are starting to tinker with release dates, Disney seems intent on pushing ahead with its plans to release Marvel Studios’ Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings in just a few short weeks.
Unlike Black Widow, Shang-Chi won’t be receiving the Premier Access treatment on Disney+, with fans needing to attend their local multiplex to see Marvel’s latest superhero in action. However, if tracking estimates from Box Office Pro are accurate, it seems the Simu Liu-led movie is on course to suffer the lowest opening weekend of any MCU movie to date.
According to the site, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is expected to gross anywhere between $35 million and $55 million domestically in its opening weekend, which would surely be enough to top the box office charts, although it would also leave it trailing 2008’s The Incredible Hulk ($55.4 million) in terms of the MCU’s openings.
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Given the current circumstances with the pandemic, it’s difficult to put much – if any – weight into box office figures at present, but it seems unlikely that Disney and Marvel will judge Shang-Chi’s success on its gross. That being said, they’re also surely crossing their fingers that it doesn’t end up falling short of The Incredible Hulk’s $265.6 million worldwide total.
How do you think Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings will perform at the box office? Let us know on our social channels @FlickeringMyth, and check out a new batch of images from the superhero film here…
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is directed by Destin Daniel Cretton (Just Mercy) and stars Simu Liu (Kim’s Convenience) as Shang-Chi, Tony Leung (Infernal Affairs) as Wenwu, Awkwafina (Crazy Rich Asians) as Katy, newcomer Meng’er Zhang as Xialing, Michelle Yeoh (Star Trek: Discovery) as Jiang Nan, Ronny Chieng (Crazy Rich Asians) as Jon Jon, Fala Chen (The Undoing) as Jiang Li, Florian Munteanu (Creed II) as Razor Fist, Benedict Wong (Doctor Strange) as Wong and Dallas Liu (Pen15) in an undisclosed role.
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is set for release on September 3rd.