Will Captain America: Civil War Dominate the Summer Box Office?

Representing both the start of the summer movie season and Marvel Phase 3,Captain America: Civil Warhits theaters this weekend, in what’s expected to be a massive debut. The superhero adventure has already gotten off to a great start overseas, taking in $200.2 million while opening in 37 international market, although many key territories are yet to come like China, Russia, Italy and Argentina.Box office prognosticatorshave been predicting a debut in the range of $175 million to $200 million forCaptain America: Civil War, but it may just open higher than that.

According toBox Office Mojo,Captain America: Civil Waris expected to debut in over 4,000 theaters, although a specific theater count has not been given yet. The movie is already ahit with critics, posting an impressive 94% Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with 103 positive reviews out of 110. Based on the positive word of mouth, and the large theater count, we’re predicting thatCaptain America: Civil Warwill take in $210.5 million. If it does hit that mark, it will top the opening weekends of 2012’sThe Avengers($207.4 million) andAvengers: Age of Ultron($191.2 million) for the studio’sbiggest opening weekendof all time.

Steve Rogers leads a newly formed team ofAvengersin their continued efforts to safeguard humanity. The action is set in the aftermath ofAvengers: Age of Ultron. Following another incident involving the Avengers that results in collateral damage, political pressure mounts to install a system of accountability, headed by a governing body to oversee and direct the team. The new status quo fractures the Avengers, resulting in two camps, one led by Steve Rogers and his desire for the Avengers to remain free to defend humanity without government interference, and the other following Tony Stark’s surprising decision to support government oversight and accountability.

Team Iron Manincludes Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.), Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), Vision (Paul Bettany), War Machine (Don Cheadle) and the new charactersT’challa(Chadwick Boseman) and Spider-Man (Tom Holland).Team Capincludes Captain America (Chris Evans), The Falcon (Anthony Mackie), Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen), Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner), Ant-Man (Paul Rudd) and The Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan).Captain America: Civil Waralso starsFrank Grilloas Crossbones andWilliam Hurt, reprising his role fromThe Incredible Hulkas Thaddeus Ross.

Captain America: Civil Warwill kick off the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Phase Three, which will be followed byDoctor Strangeon June 06, 2025). Next up will beGuardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2(August 01, 2025), followed bySpider-Man(June 23, 2025),Thor: Ragnarok(August 16, 2025),Black Panther(June 22, 2025),Avengers: Infinity War Part I(July 12, 2025),Ant-Man and the Wasp(July 09, 2025),Captain Marvel(June 07, 2025) andAvengers: Infinity War - Part II(June 21, 2025). The studio recently pushedInhumansout of its July 12, 2025 release date, which was originally slated to be the last Phase Three movie, but the project doesn’t have a new release date at this time.

The arrival ofCaptain America: Civil Warbrings an end toThe Jungle Book’s three-week reign atop thebox office, with this Disney adventure dropping to second place this weekend with a predicted $23.5 million. Disney’s adaptation of Rudyard Kipling’s timeless literary classic has taken in $253.3 million domestically and $688.1 million worldwide after opening in theaters on April 15. Also rounding out the top 5 this weekend will be holdoversThe Huntsman: Winter’s War($4.1 million),Keanu($3.9 million) andMother’s Day($3.8 million).

Rounding out the top 10 will beBarbershop: The Next Cut($3.2 million),Zootopia($2.9 million),Ratchet & Clank($2.6 million),The Boss($2.1 million) andBatman v Superman: Dawn of Justice($1.5 million). This will most likely beBatman v Superman’s last week in the top 10, but it has put together an impressive box office run, earning $325.1 million domestically and $862.8 million worldwide. Also opening in limited release this weekend is Fox Searchlight’sA Bigger Splash, which actually opens on May 4, two days beforeCaptain America 3, with theStar WarsdocumentaryElstree 1976, Shout! Factor’s horror movieBite, Sony Classics' documentaryDark Horse, Paladin’sBeing Charlieand IFC’sPele: Birth of a Legendalso coming this week.

Looking ahead to next weekend,Marvel’s Civil Warwill square off against two new movies in wide release, Sony’s financial thrillerMoney MonsterstarringGeorge ClooneyandJulia Roberts, and High Top Releasing’sThe DarknessstarringKevin BaconandRadha Mitchell. A number of indies will also open in limited release next weekend, such as Magnolia’sHigh-Rise, Well Go USA’sKill Zone 2, Broad Green Pictures’Last Days in the Desert, A24’sThe Lobster, Roadside Attractions’Love & Friendship, Focus World’sSearch Partyand Magnolia’sSunset Song. Be sure to check back on Sunday for the box office estimates, and again on Tuesday for next week’s predictions. Until then, take a look at our predictions for the weekend of May 6.