By James White | Posted 20 May 2018

We knew it was going to require skills, guts and maximum effort to take down the juggernaut that is Avengers: Infinity War and, well, Deadpool 2 gave at least one of those things. With a studio-estimated $125 million in its first weekend, the Merc With A Mouth quipped his way to the top of the Stateside box office.

While that domestic haul wasn't quite the record-breaking run some had predicted, it was still an impressive haul. And yes, it didn't beat the original film, but we doubt the team will be all that worried. Particularly as it earned an impressive $176.3 million from overseas ticket sales, resulting in a strong $301.3 million global launch. It set a new record for Fox's international business, surging past X-Men: Days Of Future Past and snatching Logan's record for an R-rated opening. We're sure Wade would get a chuckle out of that.

Infinity War had little to worry about, though; it made $28.6 million in its fourth weekend and has now taken in more than $595 million in the States alone. Worldwide it is past $1.8 billion, pushing it to become the MCU's biggest success to date and the fourth-highest grossing movie globally.

Book Club aimed to counter-programme the superhero madness, and opened with $12.5 million. That beat Life Of The Party, which took a tumble from an already disappointing launch, slumping to fourth with $7.7 million. Thriller Breaking In rounded out the top five with $6.4 million.

Kiddie pic Show Dogs couldn't deliver on the level of previous chatty canine films, kicking off with $6 million. Overboard fell to seventh with $4.7 million, while A Quiet Place was down to eighth, making $4 million. Rampage was ninth, earning $1.5 million, and documentary RBG continued to impress, staying in 10th and adding $1.2 million, despite still only showing on 375 screens.

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