Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 blasts off with a $114 million box office debut

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3: Second-Biggest Opening Weekend of the Year

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 has kicked off with a bang at the domestic box office, raking in an impressive $114 million in its opening weekend in the U.S. The highly anticipated James Gunn film, which marks the conclusion of the franchise, now stands as the second-highest opening weekend of the year, trailing only The Super Mario Bros. Movie which grossed $146 million. Despite falling short of the $146 million debut of its predecessor, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’s solid start is a considerable jump from the $94 million brought in by the first Guardians of the Galaxy film in 2014.

International Success and Rotten Tomatoes Scores

Variety reports that the Chris Pratt-led Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 has also made a significant impact in international markets, grossing approximately $168 million across 52 territories, with China leading the charge at $28 million. The film’s global box office total now stands at an impressive $282 million. The upcoming week will be crucial for the movie, as its 81% Rotten Tomatoes score will play a significant role in determining whether or not the franchise will end on a high note. Currently, The Super Mario Bros. Movie is the highest-grossing film of the year, with a domestic total of $518 million and a global haul of $1.15 billion.

A Fitting Farewell for Guardians of the Galaxy

The Hindustan Times review of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 praised the movie, calling it a “grand, fitting farewell” to the franchise. The publication also noted that the film feels like a “homage to and celebration of Gunn’s Guardians franchise.” The positive reception from critics and audiences alike is a testament to the lasting appeal of the beloved Marvel characters and their unique blend of action and humor.

Love Again Fails to Impress

In stark contrast to the success of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, Love Again, starring Priyanka Chopra, was declared a box-office flop. According to a tweet from Variety, the rom-com earned a measly $2.4 million in its opening weekend, marking a significant disappointment for the film’s producers. Love Again also boasts a dismal 13% Rotten Tomatoes score, indicating that the movie failed to resonate with both critics and audiences. The film tells the story of a woman (played by Chopra) who texts her deceased boyfriend’s old number, not realizing that it has been assigned to someone else (played by Sam Heughan). Celine Dion makes her acting debut in the movie, playing herself.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 has proven to be a box-office success, both domestically and internationally, solidifying its place as one of the year’s most highly anticipated releases. Meanwhile, Love Again has failed to connect with audiences, further highlighting the challenges faced by romantic comedies in today’s movie landscape.