With a domestic gross of $361.9 million, Fox's "Deadpool" defied expectations by becoming a massive hit even with its R-rating. The film has so far become the 8th highest-grossing superhero movie of all time (ahead of "Iron Man," "Guardians of the Galaxy" and every "X-Men" film), proving that superhero films don't have to have a PG-13 rating to score big. But the film's mature-audiences-only rating wasn't the key to its success -- at least that's what Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige theorized during a Q&A session with Deadline.

Following "Deadpool's" massive success, Feige was asked if Marvel Studios -- which consistently makes PG-13 films -- would ever go for an R now that it isn't viewed as such an obstacle. Feige stated that that isn't in their plans, and elaborated by saying that the R wasn't why "Deadpool" succeeded.

"No, we've not had any specific conversations about that," said Feige regarding the Marvel Cinematic Universe going R-rated. "And that is only part of the takeaway from 'Deadpool.' The thing that 'Deadpool' shows is, when you present something unique to an audience, they will respond to it. When you present something as popular as a superhero character, in a different and unique and crazy way as they did in 'Deadpool,' it demands attention and audiences went to it. They pulled it off. Tim Miller did a tremendous job.

"The other secret, and why it's still a secret, I don't know, but they just took what Deadpool is in the comics," Feige continued. "He breaks the fourth wall. He talks into the camera. He doesn't give a shit about any of the other heroes. He doesn't take anything seriously. All of that is what made Deadpool so popular in the comics. Tim and his writers and Ryan Reynolds were able to get that and even magnify that up on the big screen. We've always said if there's any 'secret' it's respect the source material, understand the source material and then, any adaptation you make from the source material should be done only to enhance whatever the original pure spirit of the source material was. 'Deadpool' hit on all cylinders with that."

"Deadpool" is available for purchase on Digital HD, where it has already sold a record-breaking million units; the latest Marvel movie, "Captain America: Civil War," is in theaters now.