If Deadpool & Wolverine matches its box office predictions, it could influence future MCU projects in various key ways. Shawn Levy’s Deadpool & Wolverine is set to integrate Fox’s X-Men movie franchise into the MCU officially, and it will likely affect the whole Marvel multiverse, setting the stage for the Multiverse Saga’s conclusion in Avengers 5 and Avengers: Secret Wars. Naturally, Deadpool & Wolverine‘s multiversal plot makes the movie a highly anticipated MCU release, to the point that it could break MCU records and inspire some drastic changes in Marvel Studios’ plans.

Having broken trailer view records and ticket sales records, Deadpool & Wolverine is expected to hit a $200-million domestic opening and reach more than $1 billion worldwide. Such numbers are especially impressive after the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2023 actor and writers’ strikes, and the rise of streaming platforms have greatly impacted the performance of theatrical releases. Since 2020, only massive tentpole movies such as Spider-Man: No Way Home, Avatar: The Way of Water, and The Super Mario Bros. Movie have had an almost guaranteed $1-billion performance, defied only by outliers like Barbie and Oppenheimer.

Deadpool & Wolverine’s Box Office Predictions Show The MCU’s Comedy Can Be Leaned Into

MCU Humor Might Still Be A Big Pull Despite Recent Criticisms

Fox’s Deadpool movies captivated audiences not only with their faithful adaptation of the Merc With a Mouth, but also with their R-rated comedy. After X-Men Origins: Wolverine‘s bizarre take on Wade Wilson removed his humorous personality, Deadpool leaned into the character’s famously obscene humor and violence, helping it reach $783 million worldwide and breaking records such as highest-grossing R-rated film at the time. Deadpool 2 followed the same formula and earned $785.8 million worldwide. Now, the third installment will be no exception, as Deadpool & Wolverine will be Hugh Jackman’s first Wolverine appearance with a comedic tone.

The MCU’s distinct brand of comedy has been criticized for being too self-aware and often obtrusive. Movies like The Avengers and Thor: Ragnarok stood out for their well-balanced comedy, while others such as Avengers: Age of Ultron and Thor: Love and Thunder cut dramatic scenes with awkwardly-placed jokes and gags. But despite Deadpool’s inevitable barrage of jokes, Deadpool & Wolverine‘s focus on Wade Wilson’s self-aware humor is more than welcomed by fans of the character. Then, a billion-dollar superhero comedy would be proof that Marvel doesn’t have to pivot away from comedy.

Deadpool & Wolverine’s Box Office Predictions Show The MCU Can Be More Adult

Deadpool & Wolverine’s R Rating Continues A Trend Of Successful Mature Projects

After sixteen years of family-oriented movies, the MCU welcomes Deadpool & Wolverine as Marvel Studios’ first-ever R-rated film. The fact that Deadpool & Wolverine is projected to reach a $200-million domestic debut and $1 billion worldwide despite under-18 audience restrictions suggests that R-rated content is a safe bet for Marvel. While Fox experimented with a PG-13 version of Deadpool 2 (titled Once Upon a Deadpool) to generally positive results, Marvel Studios took its chances with an R-rated Deadpool sequel set in the MCU, and it seems like the risk will pay off.

Apart from Deadpool & Wolverine, the R-rated Blade and the TV-MA Echo and Marvel Zombies are pushing the MCU’s boundaries in Phase 5. These projects’ adult material provides them with more creative freedom not only to craft more exciting action sequences, but also scripts with more suitable character decisions and more poignant consequences. Characters like Deadpool, Wolverine, Blade, and the Punisher usually get involved in more violent conflicts than other characters, thus it only makes sense for them to star in gorier battles and use stronger language.

Deadpool & Wolverine’s Box Office Predictions Make More Crossovers Even More Likely

Deadpool & Wolverine’s Main Appeal May Inspire Similar MCU Events

Crossovers have been Marvel’s biggest gold mine since the MCU’s Phase 1. After all, they are what makes an interconnected cinematic universe such an appealing concept. Crossover-based movies like The Avengers, Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Endgame, and Spider-Man: No Way Home have topped the MCU’s critical and commercial charts in great part due to their crossover nature, and Deadpool & Wolverine is reinforcing the concept’s allure. In fact, Deadpool & Wolverine‘s numerous X-Men movie cameos put the Phase 4 movie on par with Avengers: Endgame in terms of scope.

Crossover movies aren’t always successful, as the DCEU’s Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and Justice League have proved before. However, they can be a good way to attract general audiences and die-hard fans alike. After Deadpool & Wolverine, Thunderbolts*, Avengers 5, and Avengers: Secret Wars, other crossover movies the MCU could develop include Dark Avengers, Midnight Sons, the long-awaited Young Avengers, and an MCU Spider-Man film that features Deadpool, Daredevil, or Venom, as well as a Fantastic Four sequel with guest characters like Namor, Spider-Man, or She-Hulk.

Thor and Hulk’s shared adventure in Thor: Ragnarok helped both characters at a time when Thor’s popularity was struggling and Hulk couldn’t easily star in his own sequel.

Other Ways Deadpool & Wolverine Can Change The MCU

Deadpool & Wolverine Can Officially Open The Door For MCU Mutants And Other Non-MCU Cameos

Marvel Studios has teased the existence of mutants for years, but Deadpool & Wolverine‘s MCU canon status means that X-Men characters are finally making their grand entrance into the MCU. Deadpool & Wolverine could end with the titular heroes entering the MCU’s Earth-616, which would make them the first X-Men heroes to appear in the MCU’s main timeline. Deadpool and Wolverine’s arrival could also herald the return of other characters from Fox’s X-Men franchise in preparation for Avengers: Secret Wars, and perhaps even the official confirmation of the MCU’s X-Gene, which would initiate the mutant era in the Avengers’ home universe.

Deadpool & Wolverine could go one step further and incorporate characters from other non-MCU Marvel movies into mainline MCU continuity ahead of Avengers: Secret Wars. These characters could even appear as part of Avengers 5‘s 60-character cast and make cameo appearances in potential Phase 6 movies like the still unconfirmed Doctor Strange 3, Shang-Chi 2, or Spider-Man 4 before Secret Wars revamps Marvel’s cinematic multiverse. In short, Deadpool & Wolverine may have the authority to dictate the course of future MCU projects, as it will likely have the box office results to back it up.