It's crazy to think just how many people continue to watch Spider-Man: No Way Home a month after it premiered last December 17. What's even crazier is how it continues to blow past expectations and set new records. After becoming the first and only Hollywood film to gross $1 billion at the global box office, No Way Home has set another record. This time, No Way Home just reached $1.5 billion at the global box office - the first film to do so since 2019's The Lion King.

No Way Home is now the third highest-grossing MCU title

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has several films that have made it past the $1 billion mark. What's interesting here is that Tom Holland has appeared in nearly every film to do so. The only film that starred and/or featured Tom Holland that didn't gross $1 billion at the global box office was 2017's Spider-Man: Homecoming, which came a little over $100 million short.

Having said that, No Way Home's continued excellence continues to surprise everyone. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, most didn't expect No Way Home to gross $1 billion let alone $1.5 billion. But, as per The Numbers, No Way Home is now the third most successful title in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

The Tom Holland-led multiversal affair displaces Joss Whedon's The Avengers, which came out in 2012.

Unfortunately, this is as high as it gets for No Way Home. In a non-pandemic world, No Way Home could have had a shot at Infinity War's global box office title. As it is, No Way Home would need a little over $500 million to outdo the Russo brother's Avengers: Infinity War. It should go without saying that No Way Home will never catch up to Avengers: Endgame at nearly $2.8 billion.

2021 was an eventful year for Sony. Before No Way Home, Venom: Let There Be Carnage pulled in $501.1 million at the global box office despite mixed reviews. Now, No Way Home is comfortably Sony's highest-grossing movie ever and it's not slowing down just yet. Although No Way Home might see its streak of "#1 Movie in America" come to an end in its fifth weekend, the Marvel behemoth should continue drawing in crowds for as long as it is in theaters.

Perhaps this factored in Sony's decision to delay Morbius to April 1, 2022. Between No Way Home's continued success at the global box office and the threat of the Omicron variant of COVID-19, Sony might have felt that it just wasn't worth risking a low turnout at the local and global box office.

If it's any consolation, No Way Home has reportedly emboldened Sony to revisit older Spider-Man films. In particular, there are reports that Andrew Garfield is coming back for a third go as the web-slinging superhero. Meanwhile, fans are currently petitioning Sony to reconsider bringing back Tobey Maguire and Sam Raimi for a fourth Spider-Man film.

As for the MCU, fans can look forward to seeing Benedict Cumberbatch back on the big screen alongside Elizabeth Olsen in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness on May 6, 2022.