More exciting news in regards to Shang-Chi‘s box–office performance! We’ll likely know tonight or tomorrow morning how well the film has actually done, but The Hollywood Reporter reports for now:

Shang-Chi and the Legends of the Ten Rings is making a heroic showing at the box office, where it will smash the record for Labor Day openings.

The Marvel Studios title from filmmaker Destin Daniel Cretton grossed $29.6 million in Friday ticket sales from 4,300 locations. Internationally, it has grossed $23.4 million, bringing Shang-Chi‘s combined haul to $53 million. The PG-13 movie, which earned positive reviews and a glowing A Cinemascore, stars Simu Liu as Marvel’s newest hero.

With expectations set for an opening of $75-85 million for the four-day frame, Shang-Chi is poised to be one of the biggest domestic openings of the pandemic and will smash the Labor Day weekend record previously held by the 2007 Halloween, which earned $30.6 over the four-day frame.

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Exciting news for Simu, the Shang-Chi cast/crew, and for Marvel! The film opened to almost $9 million from its Thursday previews alone last night. Variety reports:

Marvel’s “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” debuted to $8.8 million in Thursday night previews. The impressive number is the second highest preview result of COVID times, just behind the $13.2 million that “Black Widow” pulled in two months ago. It also tops the opening night numbers of recent hits such as “F9” ($7.1 million, en route to $70 million bow) and “A Quiet Place Part II” ($4.8 million, before premiering to $57 million). “Shang-Chi” was expected to open to between $45 million to $50 million at the domestic box office, but that number could climb higher given the sterling preview results.

The movie marks a milestone for Asian representation in superhero films, but it also faces significant box office challenges. The spread of the delta variant has made moviegoers skittish about returning to cinemas, depressing ticket sales for blockbuster fare.

But “Shang-Chi” could benefit from its big screen exclusivity. Unlike “Black Widow,” the previous Marvel film, “Shang-Chi” will only be available in cinemas for 45 days. “Black Widow” debuted simultaneously in theaters and on Disney Plus, where it was available to rent for $30. “Black Widow” still managed to set a pandemic era opening weekend record when it bowed to $80.4 million in July, but its revenues fell sharply in subsequent weekends. Other films like “Candyman” and “Free Guy” that didn’t embrace a hybrid release model beat expectations at the box office.

“Shang-Chi” may also get a boost from good reviews. Critics have embraced the film and it currently holds an outstanding 92 percent “fresh” rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Variety‘s Peter Debruge praised the film, writing that it “…broadens the brand’s spectrum of representation once again, offering audiences of Asian descent the kind of empowerment for which ‘Black Panther’ paved the way a few years back.”

“Shang-Chi” follows its titular hero as he does battle with the criminal syndicate run by his assassin father. The film stars Simu Liu, best known for the Canadian sitcom “Kim’s Convenience,” and veterans such as Michelle Yeoh, Tony Leung, Benedict Wong and Awkwafina. Dustin Daniel Cretton, who previously helmed “Just Mercy” and “Short Term 12,” directs. The film opens in 4,300 locations.

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