I mean, I think it's obvious, right?
I mean, what other explanation is there for the fact that Deadpool grossed something like $150 million over the four day weekend that included Valentine's Day? Ladies Love Cool Ryan, so it's no wonder that they made up 38 percent of the film's record-breaking gross. Who am I to argue with abs like those?
OK, that's probably not the whole reason. I mean, look, I'm as glad as anyone that Deadpool is a huge hit because I've long hoped Ryan Reynolds could be considered a legit movie star—that guy's got schmarm like no one's business.
But, fine, his abs were probably not the biggest selling point. So why was Deadpool such a hit?
The Marvel Brand Is Basically Unimpeachable Right Now
Setting aside the horrendously ill-conceived Fantastic Four reboot—which was buffeted by studio problems and the controversial casting of a black actor in the role of Johnny Storm* and was, by all accounts, just not very good—slapping the Marvel logo on your film is as good as putting money in the bank. Remember when people were like "Marvel's making a movie about a talking tree and a psychotic raccoon, lol what are they doing?" and then Guardians of the Galaxy went on to gross $333 million domestically? I know Deadpool isn't part of the "Marvel Cinematic Universe," but I'm also not sure audiences particularly care. That logo carries a lot of weight with people.
The Thrill of Something Different (and Slightly Dangerous)
There haven't been a ton of R-rated comic book adaptations, and virtually none from DC and Marvel (aside from the generally hated Punisher flicks). The ones we've gotten (Kick-Ass, Wanted, Kingsman) have been "off-brand," so to speak. So there was something exciting about a movie starring characters people recognized from a brand they loved putting together a picture that is, for lack of a better word, naughty. I hope this means Suicide Squad—which appears to have a similar sensibility and is directed by the great David Ayer—will also be a big hit.
Deadpool, the Character, Is Absurdly Popular
I ... don't quite get it? He's basically just R-rated Spider-Man. Then again, I haven't read superhero comics regularly in 15 years, so I'm probably not the person to ask. Apparently Deadpool is bigger than Jesus. Or at least, he will be once we can compare these box office numbers to Risen.
So yeah. A character with cult status plus something a bit different plus the shiny Marvel logo equals BIG STINKING HIT. Everyone who thought we might be nearing exhaustion on the comic book movie front—your humble correspondent included—was clearly wrong. We'll be watching Marvel films until the day we die. And we'll love every minute of it.
*I have no real opinion on the casting of Michael B. Jordan in the role of Johnny Storm, just stating a fact: nerds don't like it when you mess around with their toys in ways they deem arbitrary and unnecessary. I don't know if the "controversy" actually hurt the box office given that the film was reportedly terrible (I wouldn't know, not having subjected myself to it), but I sincerely doubt it helped.