Disney’s ‘Shang-Chi’ smashes box office records over Labor Day weekend

Bob Chapek is speaking out.

Scarlett Johansson shocked the world after she went public with her lawsuit against Disney over the release strategy of “Black Widow.” The actress claims that the streaming release of “Black Widow” made it so she missed out on $50 million worth of backend money that was likely hers if the film got a typical theatrical release.

Endeavor CEO Ari Emanuel never brought up the name Scarlett Johansson, whose challenge to Disney alongside her reps at rival CAA has riled the industry. But in a virtual appearance at the Goldman Sachs Communcacopia Conference, the exec said talent is “getting paid very, very well” despite massive shifts in windows.

Coincidentally this morning at Goldman Sachs 30th Annual Communacopia Conference, Disney CEO Bob Chapek was asked a question about the compensation of Hollywood talent in the wake of long-standing distribution models being upended, and the advantages the studio has in terms of being a place that talent wants to work in a direct-to-consumer marketplace.

Rebecca Rubin Film and Media ReporterDisney’s “Shang-Chi” is heading for a box office three-peat.The Marvel superhero adventure, starring Simu Liu and Awkwafina, is projected to generate roughly $17 million between Friday and Sunday, which would represent a decline of around 50% from the weekend prior.

Rebecca Rubin Film and Media ReporterMarvel’s “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” ruled the domestic box office again, collecting $35.8 million in its second weekend in theaters.Ticket sales for the superhero movie, led by Simu Liu and Awkwafina, fell 53% from its debut, a decline on par with many Marvel installments in pre-pandemic times.

Rebecca Rubin Film and Media ReporterAfter its heroic opening weekend in North America, Disney and Marvel’s superhero adventure “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” will have no trouble reclaiming the domestic box office crown.The comic book adaptation, starring Simu Liu and Awkwafina, is eyeing a second weekend haul between $26 million and $34 million.

That result would triple the previous Labor Day weekend record of $30.5 million set by “Halloween” in 2007; and with overall totals now sitting comfortably above $130 million, this Labor Day weekend could sit among the top 5 in box office history despite the presence of the Delta variant. Marvel films have been consistently well-received by audiences and critics, but even by those high standards “Shang-Chi” is receiving remarkable acclaim.

Rebecca Rubin Film and Media ReporterMarvel’s “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” capped off Labor Day weekend at the box office with a bang.

Defying what has historically been a slow end-of-summer frame at the box office, Disney/Marvel’s “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” smashed records over the Labor Day weekend by grossing an estimated $71.4 million over the three-day frame and a Disney-projected $83.5 million through Monday from 4,300 locations.

That 3-day total is second only to the $80 million opening for “Black Widow” on the list of highest post-shutdown domestic opening weekend totals and just tops the $70 million opening for “F9” earlier this summer. The 4-day total is also nearly triple the previous record for the highest Labor Day opening weekend record of $30.5 million set by “Halloween” in 2007.

Plenty of fans and industry folks brushed off Scarlett Johansson‘s lawsuit concerning “Black Widow” pivoting from theatrical release to a hybrid model as something that could be resolved privately. But with Johansson’s legal team publicly coming out against arbitration and the lawsuit seemingly moving forward, the first bit of fallout at Marvel Studios has arrived, and it involves the Russo Brothers.

Ellise Shafer administratorMarvel and Disney’s “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” is expected to soar to the top of the domestic box office over the holiday weekend with an estimated four-day debut of $75 million to $85 million.The superhero film took in $29.6 million on Friday from 4,300 theaters. Some industry experts are estimating “Shang-Chi’s” earnings could even reach $86 million over its first four days, with a predicted three-day gross of $70.8 million.

After grossing an excellent $29.6 million from 4,300 screens on Friday, industry estimates now have the latest MCU film grossing $70.8 million over the 3-day period — which would match the opening of “F9” earlier this summer — and a stunning $86 million 4-day launch. That would nearly triple the previous record set 14 years ago by Rob Zombie’s “Halloween” with $30.5 million.

The Labor Day weekend box office, the last frame of summer, which studios typically shy from, is poised for a revolution as Disney debuts the first Asian American Marvel superhero feature Shang-Chi and the Legend of Ten Rings. 

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief“Hostage: Missing Celebrity” held on to top spot at the South Korean box office as new release “Guimoon: The Lightless Door” gave local films the top four chart places over the weekend.