Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse Breaks Israeli Box Office Record with Over 250,000 Tickets Sold
The latest Spider-Man film, "Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse," achieved the biggest opening weekend in Israeli cinema history, selling over 250,000 tickets nationwide. Forum Film, the Israeli distributor of Disney and Marvel movies, announced the record-breaking figures on Tuesday, surpassing the previous record held by "Avengers: Endgame." This success comes despite the Israeli film industry's ongoing recovery from the impacts of recent conflicts and economic challenges, highlighting Spider-Man's enduring popularity among Israeli audiences.
Globally, the film starring Tom Holland and Zendaya earned $927 million during its opening weekend, more than doubling Sony's original projections. Although "Avengers: Endgame" still holds the worldwide opening weekend record with $1.22 billion, "Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse" is expected to become the highest-grossing film of 2026, overtaking "Toy Story 5," which currently holds $1.065 billion.
Spider-Man's appeal traces back to its 1960s origins when creator Stan Lee introduced Peter Parker, a shy high schooler bitten by a radioactive spider, as a relatable superhero with real-life problems. Despite initial skepticism within Marvel, Spider-Man quickly became one of the company's most iconic characters, spawning a universe of memorable villains.
The film's recent viral promotion featuring Argentine soccer star Lionel Messi using a "Spidey Tracker" app further boosted its popularity online, garnering millions of views. Zendaya, who plays MJ, also attracted local attention by wearing jewelry designed by Israeli designer Keren Wolf at the film's premiere. The movie's success signals Marvel's resurgence after years of mixed reviews and box office disappointments, proving that quality storytelling and strong performances still draw large audiences to theaters.
