Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is on course to not just smash the box office record for a movie opening during the Labor Day weekend, the latest installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe is poised to absolutely destroy it. In Friday ticket sales alone, Shang Chi earned $29.6 million - still. a rare feat at theaters.

Rob Zombie's Halloween remake has held onto the crown of the Labor Day weekend record for fourteen years since debuting at $26.3 million over its first three days back in 2007, and $30.6 million across the four-day frame. If Shang-Chi continues on its current trajectory, it's expected to almost triple the current benchmark by bringing in $70 million from Friday to Sunday, and $86 million for Labor Day in total.

Image via Marvel Studios

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That's even more impressive when you consider that as recently as the beginning of this week, projections had director Destin Daniel Cretton's martial arts fantasy blockbuster debuting in the $45-55 million range. Instead, it might even be able to edge ahead of Fast & Furious 9's $70 million three-day to give the franchise the two largest pandemic-era opening weekends, with Black Widow still out in front with $80 million.

A solid origin story jam-packed with bone-rattling action sequences that parachutes a brand new character into the mythology, Shang-Chi also turns Simu Liu into a movie star and features screen legend Tony Leung in his first major role in a Hollywood blockbuster. Shang-Chi is shaping up to be another big win for Kevin Feige's all-conquering outfit. Positive reviews and strong word-of-mouth have also likely helped Shang-Chi fly much higher than expected.

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is in theaters now.

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