BOX OFFICE: ‘DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE' MAKES RECORD-BREAKING $38.5 MILLION IN PREVIEWS

Deadpool is known for breaking the fourth wall, but now he's breaking down the box office.

Marvel's "Deadpool & Wolverine," the official MCU debut of Ryan Reynolds's Merc With a Mouth and Hugh Jackman's be-clawed X-Men character, made a massive $38.5 million in Thursday previews at the box office.

The Thursday haul is the biggest of the year so far, easily beating Disney's animated family hit "Inside Out 2," which made $13 million last month. It's also the highest preview gross ever for an R-rated movie. The first "Deadpool" made $12.7 million in Thursday night previews back in 2016, and its 2018 sequel topped that with $18.6 million, which held the R-rated record until now. So, expect records to keep tumbling as the weekend progresses. Internationally, where "Deadpool & Wolverine" is open in every major markets except China, where it begins screening on Friday, the film has earned $64.8 million.

Some estimates are putting "Deadpool & Wolverine" on track to open domestically with a excellent $160 million to $170 million, but based on the preview numbers, those projections are likely too conservative. Other analysts and studios are predicting it will open closer to $190 million or even $200 million. A launch at that level would make it the highest-grossing opening weekend of the year, surpassing the $155 million for "Inside Out 2." The film is expected to make between $350 million and $390 million globally after its first weekend. It cost $200 million to produce and approximately $100 million to market, so it's on track for a hugely successful run.

So why is "Deadpool & Wolverine" so popular? After Disney acquired Fox and its movie properties, the Mouse House is finally bringing the popular X-Men and Fantastic Four characters into its Marvel Cinematic Universe. Reynolds' Deadpool and Jackman's Wolverine can finally cross over with the likes of Captain America, Thor and Spider-Man - nearly ever Marvel fan's dream. Shawn Levy directs "Deadpool & Wolverine," which is expected to have an "Avengers: Endgame"-level of cameos from the previously abandoned Fox properties.

After a rocky start, the box office will be in good shape this weekend. Last week's champion, "Twisters," is projected to make between $36 million and $40 million in its second weekend.