Marvel has a new champion as Doctor Strange crosses the US$600 million milestone, dethroning Iron Man as the studio's biggest solo debut.
The Sorcerer Supreme's first big-screen outing has raked in US$616 million worldwide, beating Iron Man (US$585 million), The Incredible Hulk (US$263 million), Thor (US$450 million), Captain America: The First Avenger (US$370 million) and Ant-Man (US$519 million).
Doctor Strange has achieved the haul before it even opens in Japan, where star Benedict Cumberbatch has an enormous following.
Around 66 percent of the film's revenue has come from outside the North American market, with particularly strong results in China, Korea, the United Kingdom and Russia.
In New Zealand, Doctor Strange had pulled in NZ$2.93 million as of November 23.
The Scott Derrickson-directed film is also the 9th Marvel Cinematic Universe title to cross the US$600 million mark, and Disney's 5th movie to do so in 2016 alone.
Marvel will be hoping for a similar result with Black Panther, which launces in early 2018.
Newshub.
