Ahead of the film's worldwide premiere, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is selling five times as many tickets as the first Doctor Strange film and cementing its place as the hottest movie of the summer season. Fans are clamoring for the MCU sequel for several reasons, like Sam Raimi's reunion with Kevin Feige and his return to the director's chair after nearly a decade, along with the limitless possibilities the Multiverse holds for future Marvel films. Depending on how the titular Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) navigates this new concept in the sequel, another inconceivable chain of events could resonate throughout the MCU.

Superhero films remain some of the most prominent blockbuster movie events globally, exemplified by Spider-Man: No Way Home and The Batman's hugely successful box office performances. Multiverse of Madness appears to be no different, with a massive marketing effort pushing the film as a gamechanger for both the MCU and comic book movies. Moviegoers anticipate such an outcome, with the film making over $42 million in advance ticket purchases for Marvel since presales opened on April 6. That performance isn't just better than the first Doctor Strange but is also blowing other MCU titles out of the water.

Related: Sam Raimi's Marvel Movies Comment Reveals How Good Doctor Strange 2 Is

On top of making five times the ticket sales as the first film and outpacing Marvel hits like Captain Marvel, Thor: Ragnarok, and Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2., Fandango reports that Multiverse of Madness is the presale ticket leader for all of 2022. The company's Managing Editor Erik Davis offers an explanation for the incredible numbers, saying, "Fans can't wait to see what magic director Sam Raimi has in store for them as he delivers an epic spectacle that needs to be seen on the biggest screen possible."

Benedict Cumberbatch Doctor Strange 2

Additionally, thousands of fans surveyed by Fandango indicate that they want to see what ramifications emerge from the exploration of the Multiverse. With multiple versions of the Scarlet Witch, Doctor Strange, and the introductions of numerous alternate-universe characters like Captain Carter and Maria Rambeau, Multiverse of Madness is shaping up to be a defining film in the MCU canon in terms of satisfying character portrayals. And narratively, it will be the first Marvel feature to follow up the events of No Way Home and WandaVision, both mentioned in the Fandango survey as chief factors for fan anticipation behind Multiverse of Madness.

Whereas the first Doctor Strange film proved to be a quality introduction of the Sorcerer Supreme to the MCU and casual film audiences that may not have been aware of him, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is much more expansive and compelling. The film can capitalize on years of storytelling, introduce exciting new heroes, and even set up a meeting between Doctor Strange and Professor X, satisfying practically every type of fan. Given the massive amount of intriguing scenarios, it is no wonder that Raimi's film is the box office presale leader, and it will not be surprising if it becomes the most successful film of 2022.

More: Doctor Strange 2 Could Set An Impossible Precedent For The MCU

Source: Fandango

Key Release Dates