Deadpool becomes top grossing R-rated film

Deadpool has become the top grossing R-rated movie of all time, taking US$746 million (NZ$1088.18 million) at the global box office.

The Marvel Comics and Twentieth Century Fox collaboration is the first R-rated movie to beat 2003 sci-fi movie The Matrix Reloaded, which grossed US$742 million.

Starring Ryan Reynolds, Deadpool broke the record by racking up US$349 million in the US in addition to US$396 million worldwide, furthered by strong Easter weekend takings of US$5 million.

With its off-beat humour, the Marvel film about an assassin with advanced healing powers is a popular offshoot of the globally successful X-Men franchise. The box office figures are expected to further increase when the film is released in Japan in June.

In the US, R-rated movies contain some adult material and require under 17s to be accompanied by a parent or adult guardian.

Meanwhile, in the UK, Deadpool is classified as a 15 certificate for its "strong bloody violence, strong language, sex references" meaning children under 15 years of age are not allowed to watch it.

Critics feared the movie, which contains foul language, would suffer by excluding younger comic book fans, but it has remained in the US top 10 for a consecutive six weeks.

Deadpool has also been well received by critics in the UK and US alike, with Variety's Justin Chang calling it "a scabrously funny big-screen showcase for the snarkiest of Marvels comic-book creations."

Costing the relatively small sum of US$58 million to make, it's expected that Fox Studios will make a handsome return on its investment in the project.

The movie has been on general release in the UK and US since February. It is rumoured that Deadpool 2 is already in the works.

- WENN