With the sequel to Marvel’s 2015 production of Ant-Man due in theaters on July 6, box office tracking numbers have been released. Three weeks out from the film’s release, sources are anticipating the film coming in at a three-day profit between $69 and $80 million. If the number holds, that will ensure a higher opening weekend than the original picture, which brought home $57 million in 2015. So far, the film is tracking best with males under 25, followed by men over 25 and females under 25.
The first Ant-Man was met with moderately positive reviews from critics and audiences. The solo film is certified fresh on Rotten Tomatoes with an RT Score of 82% and an average score of 6.8 out of 10 from critics. The audiences were even more positive, with an 86% audience score, and an average rating of 4 out of 5. Rotten Tomatoes’ critics consensus summed it up fairly succinctly. It also was no slouch at the box office, bringing in $519 million worldwide.
“Led by a charming performance from Paul Rudd, Ant-Man offers Marvel thrills on an appropriately smaller scale,” the summary reads. “Albeit not as smoothly as its most successful predecessors.”
What could potentially hold the sequel film’s box office numbers back is fairly obvious. With the upcoming releases of Incredibles 2, and Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom slated prior to its release, Ant-Man and the Wasp may face some competition for audiences’ attention. While the original’s numbers were lower than that of Thor and Captain America: First Avenger, by the end of its stint in theaters, Ant-Man wasn’t far off from Thor’s numbers, and had actually surpassed Captain America. Original director Peyton Reed is back for the sequel, as Evangeline Lilly joins co-star Paul Rudd as the character of The Wasp, as the two team up to battle The Ghost, a villain who steals one of Hank Pym’s suits that possesses the power to move through walls.