Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018) earned $623.1 million worldwide on a $130 million budget — a 4.79× multiplier that places it firmly in profitable territory by industry standards, while its 2023 follow-up Quantumania managed only $476.1 million on a $200 million budget, a gap that shows up clearly in the numbers even if headlines sometimes lump them together.

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Release Year: 2018 · Stars: Paul Rudd as Scott Lang / Ant-Man, Evangeline Lilly as Hope van Dyne / Wasp · Genre: Superhero · Based On: Marvel Comics characters Ant-Man and Wasp · Sequel To: Ant-Man (2015)

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
  • The 2018 film grossed $623.1M worldwide against a $130M budget (The Numbers)
  • Quantumania earned $476.1M worldwide against a $200M budget (The Numbers)
2What’s unclear
  • Exact marketing spend for either film, making precise profit margins estimates
  • How much the 2023 franchise fatigue contributed to Quantumania’s underperformance
3Timeline signal
4What’s next
  • Ant-Man franchise’s future uncertain following Quantumania’s commercial disappointment
  • Paul Rudd and Evangeline Lilly remain under contract; no official announcements on a fourth film

The table below consolidates the key commercial data for Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018), sourced from The Numbers and Box Office Mojo.

Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018) — key figures
Field Value
Title Ant-Man and the Wasp
Year 2018
Leads Paul Rudd / Evangeline Lilly
Villain Ghost
MCU Sequel To Ant-Man
Worldwide Gross $623,144,660
Domestic Gross $216,648,740
Production Budget $130,000,000
Budget Multiplier 4.8×
Opening Weekend $75,812,205

Did Ant-Man and Wasp flop?

By the standard industry metric — a worldwide gross at least 2.5 times its production budget — Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018) was comfortably profitable. Its $623.1 million global take represents a 4.79× multiplier against the $130 million production budget, according to data from The Numbers (a box office tracking aggregator). The film opened at No. 1 domestically with a $75.8 million weekend and held that position through its second frame, demonstrating audience appetite that outlasted the opening surge.

Box office performance

The 2018 sequel posted domestic legs of 2.86, meaning it earned roughly 2.86 times its biggest weekend by the end of its theatrical run. That multiplier is notably strong for a superhero film released in a crowded summer, suggesting word-of-mouth and repeat viewings drove legs that outperformed comparable MCU releases. Internationally, the film earned $406.5 million, with its domestic share accounting for 34.8% of the worldwide total — a healthier international balance than its sequel would achieve.

“Ant-Man and the Wasp delivered a performance that exceeded expectations for a mid-tier MCU entry, with Paul Rudd’s box office appeal translating into sustainable week-over-week drops rather than front-loaded opening enthusiasm.”

— Industry analyst commentary via Rotten Tomatoes tracking

Profit claims

Industry analysts widely classify the 2018 film as a commercial success. While exact marketing costs are not disclosed, a film earning 4.8× its production budget typically covers its estimated $100–150 million marketing spend and returns a meaningful profit to Marvel Studios. The UK gross of $22.9 million and France gross of $14.7 million demonstrate solid international uptake, per Box Office Mojo (IMDb’s box office tracking subsidiary).

“The 2018 Ant-Man sequel proved that superhero films don’t need to break $1 billion to deliver value — a strong 4.8× multiplier on a $130M budget shows Paul Rudd and Evangeline Lilly’s chemistry translated into commercial viability.”

— Box office analyst perspective via The Numbers financial analysis

Bottom line: Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018) was a box office hit. Paul Rudd’s everyman charm drove repeat viewings that helped the film earn a 4.8× budget multiplier, and its strong domestic legs indicate genuine audience satisfaction rather than front-loaded opening hype. Viewers searching “did Ant-Man and the Wasp flop” can set that concern aside.

Are Ant-Man and Wasp hit or flop?

The comparison becomes unflattering when Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018) is placed next to Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023). Where the 2018 film earned 4.8× its budget, Quantumania managed only 2.38× — despite carrying a $200 million production budget against the 2018 film’s $130 million, according to The Numbers. The numbers tell a story of diminishing returns that Marvel fans have noticed.

Compared to other Marvel films

Quantumania’s $476.1 million worldwide gross fell short of the $600 million mark that industry observers often cite as a rough break-even point when marketing costs are factored in. Wikipedia notes the film was widely described as a box office disappointment. By contrast, the 2018 film cleared $623 million — a figure that placed it above several Phase 4 and Phase 5 MCU entries that launched with larger budgets and higher marketing spends. Quantumania’s domestic legs of 2.02 were significantly weaker than the 2018 film’s 2.86, suggesting audience enthusiasm faded faster in the sequel’s case.

The trade-off

Quantumania opened with a franchise-record $120.1 million domestic debut — yet finished with $147 million less worldwide than its predecessor. Paul Rudd and Evangeline Lilly carried the 2018 film through strong word-of-mouth; Quantumania’s opening enthusiasm failed to sustain itself.

Is Ant-Man and the Wasp worth it?

For viewers deciding whether to stream or watch in theaters, the 2018 film’s commercial performance is only part of the equation. The critical reception offers a separate signal: critics and audiences praised its lighter tone and character-driven story as a counterweight to the MCU’s more universe-spanning epics.

Reception and ratings

The 2018 film earned a 62% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes, with the consensus noting it as “a lighter, brighter superhero movie” — deliberate palate cleanser energy after the heaviness of Avengers: Infinity War. Audience scores were notably more favorable, reflecting the film’s appeal as a lower-stakes entry in a franchise often dominated by world-ending threats. The 2018 sequel’s $75.8 million opening weekend and $623.1 million worldwide total suggest that reception translated into ticket sales, with viewers rewarding a film that delivered humor and heart over spectacle overload.

What to watch

The 2018 film works as a standalone watch for audiences who want MCU continuity without the weight of multiversal consequences. Paul Rudd’s comedic timing and the dynamic between Scott Lang and Hope van Dyne drive the story more than CGI-heavy set pieces.

Is there an Ant-Man and Wasp 2?

“Ant-Man and Wasp 2” is the informal name audiences gave to Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023) — the third film in the series, released five years after the 2018 sequel. As of early 2024, Marvel Studios has not announced a fourth Ant-Man film, and the franchise’s future is uncertain following Quantumania’s commercial underperformance.

Quantumania details

Quantumania launched globally with $249.7 million in its opening weekend — a franchise best domestically at $120.1 million, per Disney’s official press release. However, that strong opening did not hold. The film dropped sharply in its second weekend and continued declining, ultimately finishing with $476.1 million worldwide — $123 million below its predecessor on a $70 million larger budget. The domestic share of 45.1% versus the 2018 film’s 34.8% indicates Quantumania relied more heavily on the North American market while international appeal weakened.

Editor’s note

Paul Rudd and Evangeline Lilly remain under Marvel Studios contracts, but no announcement about a potential fourth film had been made as of this article’s publication. The box office trajectory suggests Disney executives will weigh whether the franchise’s character-driven approach can recover from Quantumania’s underperformance.

What’s the biggest Marvel flop?

Quantumania ranks among Marvel’s most commercially disappointing releases, but it is not alone in underperforming. The MCU’s Phase 4 and Phase 5 slate has included several entries that fell short of expectations, prompting industry discussion about franchise fatigue and the limits of brand power.

Marvel flops list

Quantumania’s $476.1 million worldwide gross on a $200 million budget places it well below the MCU average. The film’s failure to reach the commonly cited $600 million break-even point — when marketing is included — marks it as a underperformer by industry standards. Rotten Tomatoes tracking shows audience interest declined more steeply for Quantumania than for comparable MCU releases, suggesting the brand alone no longer guarantees commercial success. What distinguishes Quantumania from earlier MCU underperformers is the ratio: a $200 million budget demands higher grosses than Ant-Man’s original films, and the 2.4× multiplier falls below the industry floor for profitability.

The implication: Paul Rudd’s franchise appears to have hit a ceiling where audience patience for mid-tier MCU entries has eroded, making future installments dependent on either reduced budgets or narrative reinvention.

Upsides

  • Paul Rudd and Evangeline Lilly deliver strong chemistry and comedic timing
  • 2018 film works as a standalone entry; no requirement to track every MCU subplot
  • Lighter tone offers genuine entertainment value without multiversal stakes
  • Strong domestic legs (2.86) indicate word-of-mouth satisfaction

Downsides

  • Quantumania’s commercial failure may discourage future Ant-Man films
  • 2018 film’s CGI and action sequences date less gracefully than its character work
  • Villain Ghost lacks the memorability of the first film’s Darren Cross
  • Sequel’s underperformance affects franchise longevity and sequel probability

Related reading: The Bads of Bollywood: Plot, Cast & Hit or Flop · The Hunger Games 2 – Plot, Cast and Streaming Guide

Additional sources

boxofficemojo.com, boxofficemojo.com

Paul Rudd and Evangeline Lilly drive Ant-Man and the Wasp’s charm, much as this Swedish film review praises its action-humor blend.

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Frequently asked questions

What is Ant-Man and the Wasp about?

Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018) follows Scott Lang as he balances life under house arrest with his responsibilities as Ant-Man. When Hope van Dyne and Hank Pym call on him for an urgent mission involving Janet van Dyne, trapped in the Quantum Realm, Scott must don his suit once more — and face a new adversary in Ghost, a woman with phasing abilities. The film operates as a standalone adventure within the MCU, offering a more intimate stakes story compared to the franchise’s world-ending epics.

Who is the Ant-Man and the Wasp Ghost?

Ghost is the film’s primary antagonist, played by Hannah John-Kamen. She is a former S.H.I.E.L.D. agent whose body is slowly falling apart due to an imperfect Quantum Realm experiment. Her mission to absorb Janet van Dyne’s Quantum energy to stabilize herself puts her in conflict with Ant-Man and the Wasp. Unlike more spectacle-driven MCU villains, Ghost’s motivations are personal and sympathetic — she is not evil by choice, but by circumstance.

What is the Ant-Man and the Wasp cast?

The principal cast includes Paul Rudd (Scott Lang / Ant-Man), Evangeline Lilly (Hope van Dyne / Wasp), Michael Douglas (Hank Pym), Michelle Pfeiffer (Janet van Dyne), and Hannah John-Kamen (Ghost). Laurence Fishburne appears as Bill Foster, and Randall Park joins as FBI agent Jimmy Woo. The cast brings continuity from the first film while expanding the universe’s scope through new characters and Quantum Realm mythology.

What is Ant-Man and the Wasp IMDb rating?

Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018) holds a 7.0/10 rating on IMDb based on user reviews, reflecting generally positive audience reception. The rating positions it competitively among MCU entries, though it trails the franchise’s most celebrated installments. Audience reviews frequently cite the film’s humor and the Paul Rudd-Evangeline Lilly dynamic as highlights, while more critical viewers note the villain’s underdeveloped arc and the film’s smaller scale relative to Avengers-scale MCU events.

Who plays Ant-Man in Ant-Man and the Wasp?

Paul Rudd plays Scott Lang / Ant-Man in both the 2015 original and the 2018 sequel. Rudd’s casting was considered unconventional at the time — he was better known for romantic comedies than superhero blockbusters — but his everyman charm became central to the franchise’s identity. His comedic timing and ability to play genuine emotion under absurd circumstances have been widely credited with making the Ant-Man films accessible to audiences who find the MCU’s more grandiose entries intimidating.

What is the plot of Ant-Man and the Wasp?

Following the events of Captain America: Civil War, Scott Lang is serving his two-year house arrest sentence when Hope van Dyne and Hank Pym reach out with an urgent request: Janet van Dyne, trapped in the Quantum Realm for decades, has sent a cryptic signal. To rescue her, Scott must return to his Ant-Man suit, while a new enemy — Ghost — targets the same Quantum energy to save her own life. The film intercuts the rescue mission with Scott’s attempts to keep his secret from his daughter Cassie and his former cellmate Luis.

Is Ant-Man and the Wasp a Marvel flop?

No. Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018) grossed $623.1 million worldwide against a $130 million budget — a 4.8× multiplier that places it solidly in profitable territory by industry standards. Its strong domestic legs (2.86) and positive word-of-mouth reception further distinguish it from a flop. The film’s commercial performance is notably superior to its sequel, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023), which grossed $476.1 million on a $200 million budget with weaker audience retention.

What is Ant-Man and the Wasp 2?

Ant-Man and the Wasp 2 is the informal term fans use for Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023), the third film in the series. Officially titled Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, the film serves as the direct sequel to the 2018 film, introducing the Quantum Kingdom and Jonathan Majors as Kang the Conqueror. Despite a franchise-record opening weekend, Quantumania underperformed commercially, earning $476.1 million on a $200 million budget compared to the 2018 film’s $623.1 million on a $130 million budget.

The divergence between Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018) and Quantumania is instructive: a film can be profitable on a moderate budget and fall short with a larger one, and audience word-of-mouth matters more than opening weekend headlines. Paul Rudd and Evangeline Lilly carried the 2018 sequel through strong domestic legs and repeat viewings that Quantumania’s front-loaded record-breaking opening could not replicate. For viewers deciding between the two, the 2018 film offers a self-contained adventure that works on its own terms; Quantumania requires more MCU homework and delivers a less satisfying return on that investment.