Labor Day Movies: Marvel’s ‘Shang-Chi’ Has Record-Breaking Opening Weekend

The release of Marvel’s “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” marks the second-highest opening of any film to be released during the coronavirus pandemic.

Domestically, the film raked in $71.4 million. However, on the international scale, “Shang-Chi” has brought in $56.2 million.

“There is no doubt that the massive brand equity of Marvel boosted ‘Shang-Chi’s’ prospects,” said Paul Dergarabedian, a senior media analyst at Comscore.

“[And] a perfectly executed theatrical-first strategy served to rev up interest and excitement among fans.”

“Shang-Chi” has not been approved for release in China and is the first Marvel film to be released exclusively in theaters amid the pandemic. Marvel previously released “Black Widow” in theaters and on Disney+ premier access.

Throughout the pandemic, several studies have opted to release films in theaters and on streaming services prior to the release of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Following its theatrical release, “Shang-Chi” has broken the record for the highest opening of any film released over Labor Day weekend.

“Shattering Labor Day box office records with an origin story new to many fans, Shang-Chi delivers an emphatic statement: people really want to get back to the movies,” said Rich Gelfond, the CEO of Imax.

“It’s clear that great filmmaking plus an exclusive theatrical release is a winning formula at the box office, and this groundbreaking film has successfully launched an exciting new cinematic journey for Marvel and a strong fall blockbuster slate for the industry.”

Globally, “Shang-Chi” is expected to earn a total of $127.6 million over Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.