New Report Explains How Disney Still Made Money on ‘Quantumania’ Despite the Film’s Poor Box Office Showing
2023 got off to a disastrous start for Marvel Studios with the release of Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. The highly anticipated third installment in the Ant-Man franchise, Quantumania, seemingly had all the ingredients of a Marvel hit.
Not only did Paul Rudd return as the titular hero, but he was joined by a star-studded cast that included Evangeline Lilly, Michael Douglas, Michelle Pfeiffer, Jonathan Majors, and Bill Murray.
In addition, the third Ant-Man film finally explored the Quantum Realm and properly introduced Jonathan Majors’s Kang the Conquer.
Source: Marvel Studios
At the time, Marvel planned on using Qunatumania as the launching point for Kang’s story, which would eventually see the multiversal villain establish himself as Marvel’s next big bad.
A Box Office Disappointment
While Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania started off to a fairly promising start at the box office, grossing $225 million at the global office, the wheels eventually fell off. After poor reviews from critics and fans alike, the film’s box office prospects dried up.
Image: Marvel
When the dust had settled, Quantumnia only managed to gross $476.1 million.
Not only would the third Ant-Man film’s release prove to be an auspicious start for Marvel’s Kang storyline, but it would also foreshadow a year of struggle for Marvel. In the wake of Quantumania’s failure at the box office, Jonathan Majors would be arrested for domestic assault, Secret Invasion would disappoint on Disney+, and The Marvels would bomb in theaters.
Image: Marvel
While Marvel has bounced back spectacularly this year with the release of Deadpool & Wolverine, the wreckage of Quantumania is still worth investigating.
Did Disney Turn a Profit on ‘Quantumania’
A new report from Forbes has shed some light on the film’s financials, giving us a better idea of how Marvel views the film.
Source: Marvel Studios
According to the Forbes report, Disney spent $388.4 million on Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. Based on their calculations, which include a $58 million tax credit from the UK, Disney made roughly $88,000 on the film’s box office run.
It should be noted, however, that the Forbes figure does not consider promotional costs, nor does it factor in merchandise sales and home entertainment revenue. You read their full report to get into the nitty-gritty.
Photo: Forbes
Nevertheless, by utilizing the UK tax credit, Marvel turned a film that lost money at the box office into a slight gain.
In the end, Quantumania was a disappointment, not a disaster (even if M.O.D.O.K was)
Photo: Marvel
