Logan Beats X-Men: Apocalypse, Doctor Strange In Thursday Night Preview Sales

Hugh Jackman's final outing as Wolverine is already a box office hit. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the film raked in $9.5 million in Thursday night previews ahead of its Friday premiere, beating out recent superhero films like X-Men: Apocalypse, which earned $8.2 million, and Doctor Strange, which earned $9.4 million.

Logan has been highly anticipated, marking the (supposed) end of Jackman's 17 year run as the character. The movie follows an older, weary Logan and Professor X as they help the young mutant X-23, who is being pursued by dark forces. Patrick Stewart has claimed that this will also likely be his last time playing the mutant patriarch.

Other Wolverine films have fared worse in Thursday night previews. 2009's X-Men Origins: Wolverine earned just under $5 million (via BoxOfficeMojo), while 2013's The Wolverine earned only $4 million (via THR). Logan also wasn't able to outsell the Ryan Reynolds-starring Deadpool, which earned $12.7 million in Thursday night previews, a record for an R-rated movie, according to THR. However, Deadpool was released over Valentine's Day weekend, which tends to see high box office numbers.

Logan is projected to gross more than $70 million in North America this weekend as well as $100 million overseas. Logan is up against Jordan Peele's Get Out, which continues to do draw in big audiences amid much critical praise, as well as new releases The Shack, starring Sam Worthington and Octavia Spencer, Before I Fall, starring Zoey Deutch and Halston Stage, and Table 19, starring Anna Kendrick and Rya Meyers.

Before you head out to see Logan, watch the trailer above and read up on what the critics are saying. You can also see who we think should play Wolverine next.