Boom! Pow! ‘Avengers’ Smashes Box Office Record With $200.3 Million Debut
- Posted on May 6, 2012 at 5:05pm by
Erica Ritz
- Print »
- Email »
(The Blaze/AP) — Hulk, smash.
That’s what Captain America tells the Incredible Hulk to do in “The Avengers,” and that’s what the Marvel Comics superhero mash-up did at the box office, smashing the domestic revenue record with a $200.3 million debut.
It’s by far the biggest opening ever, shooting past the previous record of $169.2 million for the debut of last year’s “Harry Potter” finale.
“The Avengers” added $151.5 million overseas over the weekend to bring its total to $441.5 million since it began opening internationally a week earlier.
That raised the film’s worldwide haul to $641.8 million in barely a week and a half, more than its Marvel superhero forerunners “Iron Man,“ ”Iron Man 2,“ ”Thor“ and ”Captain America” took in during their entire runs.
If distributor Disney’s domestic estimate Sunday holds when the final weekend count is released Monday, “The Avengers” would be the first movie ever to haul in $200 million in a single weekend.
(Photo: Paramount Pictures, Marvel Studios)
While the number could dip below $200 million come Monday, Disney spent the weekend revising its forecasts upward as business kept growing.
“There aren’t even words, to be honest. I’m running low on double takes. Every time we looked at a number, it just got bigger than what we could have hoped for in the best-case assumption,” said Dave Hollis, Disney’s head of distribution. “With this film, this weekend, anything is possible.”
“The Avengers” started with solid midnight crowds Friday, though nowhere near a record. Then it did $80.5 million for the full day Friday, second only to the “Harry Potter” finale’s $91.1 million first day.
Revenues held up much better than expected with $69.7 million Saturday, and Disney estimated that the film would bring in $50.1 million more on Sunday.
The record weekend was the culmination of years of careful planning by Marvel Studios, which has included teasers for an “Avengers” dream team collaboration in its solo superhero adventures.
Directed by Joss Whedon (“Buffy the Vampire Slayer”), “The Avengers” features Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man, Chris Evans as Captain America, Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Mark Ruffalo as the Hulk, Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow, Jeremy Renner as Hawkeye and Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury.
A $200 million total for every movie in release is considered a great weekend for the business as a whole, so “The Avengers” redefines the standards for a blockbuster debut.
“If `The Avengers’ is any indication, we’re going to see a leap rather than a gentle little nudge into new territory, and the lineup is there to justify it going forward,” said Greg Foster, chairman and president of the huge-screen IMAX cinema chain.
Crowds were so anxious to see the film on IMAX’s giant screens that Foster said the company had only one problem: it ran out of seats to sell.
Overall domestic revenues came in at $248 million, climbing 49 percent compared to the same weekend last year, when “Thor” opened with $65.7 million, according to box-office tracker Hollywood.com. “The Avengers” accounted for four-fifths of the weekend’s domestic receipts.
Hollywood launched a potentially record-shattering summer with a vengeance, “The Avengers” landing as just the first of three huge superhero tales that highlight a lineup filled with other blockbusters in the making.
“The Amazing Spider-Man“ follows on July 3 and ”The Dark Knight Rises” wraps up the current Batman series on July 20.
Until the “Harry Potter” finale, 2008′s “The Dark Knight” had held the revenue record with a $158.4 million debut. Before that, the record-holder was 2007′s “Spider-Man 3″ with $151.1 million.
So anticipation for those two films could rival that of “The Avengers.”
As admission prices rise, Hollywood’s record-breakers often take in more money but sell fewer tickets than previous blockbusters. But “The Avengers” took in so much money that it’s the undisputed champ among debuts.
Based on average admission prices the years they were released, “The Dark Knight” and “Spider-Man 3″ had led with about 22 million tickets sold each over opening weekend. Today’s average prices put “The Avengers” tally at around 25.6 million tickets sold.
Along with the superhero films, Hollywood’s summer lineup includes the action tales “Men in Black 3,“ ”G.I. Joe: Retaliation,“ ”Battleship,“ ”Total Recall“ and ”Prometheus,” director Ridley Scott’s return to the sci-fi territory of his horror hit “Alien.”
Big family fare includes the animated adventures “Brave,“ from ”Toy Story” creator Pixar Animation, and the sequels “Ice Age: Continental Drift“ and ”Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted.”
The comedy lineup features Adam Sandler’s “That’s My Boy,” Will Ferrell’s “The Campaign” and Sacha Baron Cohen’s “The Dictator.”
“‘The Avengers’ kicks off what looks to me to be the summer box-office equivalent of the 100-year flood,” said Hollywood.com analyst Paul Dergarabedian. “This is perhaps the most perfect summer lineup in box-office history.”
Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Hollywood.com. Where available, latest international numbers are also included. Final domestic figures will be released Monday.
1. “The Avengers,” $200.3 million ($151.5 million international).
2. “Think Like a Man,” $8 million.
3. “The Hunger Games,” $5.7 million ($4.3 million international).
4. “The Lucky One,” $5.5 million ($5.5 million international).
5. “The Pirates! Band of Misfits,” $5.4 million ($2.6 million international).
6. “The Five-Year Engagement,” $5.1 million ($2.3 million international).
7. “The Raven,” $2.5 million.
8. “Safe,” $2.47 million ($2.2 million international).
9. “Chimpanzee,” $2.4 million.
10. “The Three Stooges,” $1.8 million.
—
Estimated weekend ticket sales at international theaters (excluding the U.S. and Canada) for films distributed overseas by Hollywood studios, according to Rentrak:
1. “The Avengers,” $151.5 million.
2. “American Reunion,” $34 million.
3. “Battleship,” $11 million.
4. “Jannat 2,” $6.1 million.
5. “The Lucky One,” $5.5 million.
6. “The Hunger Games,” $4.3 million.
7. “Titanic” in 3-D, $4.2 million.
8. “Mirror Mirror,” $3.7 million.
9. “As One,” $3.6 million.
10. “Thermae Romae,” $2.9 million.
Popular Stories
MSNBC Host Snaps in Heated Segment: ‘What in the World Is Riskier Than Being a Poor Person in America?’ 694 Comments
Does Misstated Marathon Claim Prove Paul Ryan Is Dishonest? (POLL) 662 Comments
‘Jumah at the DNC’ Speaker: ‘Muslims Visited America Prior to Columbus’ & ‘It Was a Muslim’ Who Guided Him to the ‘New World’ 525 Comments
Obama: RNC Like Watching ‘Black-and-White TV’ Because Romney ‘Did Not Offer a Single New Idea’ 364 Comments
Paper Details Obama Admin’s Alleged Secret Note Sent to Iran: If Israel Attacks, We Won’t Get Involved 363 Comments
Faith
This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 235 Comments- Pakistani Muslim Cleric Accused of Framing Disabled Christian Girl in Koran-Burning Case Read More
- ‘Made Up Religion’: TV Historian Enrages Muslims, Receives Threats After Producing UK Documentary Questioning Islam’s Beginnings 248 Comments
Meet the Controversial German Imam Accused of Brutally Beating His Wife & Pushing Sharia Law Read More
‘Self-Proclaimed Messiah’ & Unification Church Leader the Rev. Sun Myung Moon Has Died — Here’s His Life Story Read More
Business
President Obama Issues Major ‘Green Energy’ Executive Order Read More- Germany’s Upcoming Court Ruling Will be Huge for the EU Read More
Ford Looks to Beat Toyota for Best-Selling Car in 2012 With This Model 147 Comments
Bernanke & QE3: Here’s What You Need to Know Read More- ‘Extortion’: Why Did the Labor Department ‘Drop the Hammer’ on Oregon Farmers? 300 Comments
Technology
- This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 235 Comments
‘TaserDrone’: Hackers Weaponize Quadcopter With Actual ‘Shocking’ Technology Read More
Ever Heard of the Wild ‘Burning Man’ Festival in the Middle of the Nev. Desert? Here’s Your Primer Read More
Stanford Develops Technology ‘Better Than Steroids’ for Athlete Recovery Read More
Have You Pretended to Know What ‘the Cloud’ Is? You’re Not Alone Read More
Submitting your tip... please wait!
Comments (62)
MR_ANDERSON
Posted on May 7, 2012 at 6:11amIronman is my favorite super hero…
…surprisingly, he is also a capitalist!
Report Post »rsletto
Posted on May 7, 2012 at 7:52pmand into “green” energy. but i understand yes he is a capitalist
Report Post »johnjamison
Posted on May 8, 2012 at 1:22pmFunny how Iron Man looked to the hero he made the most fun of for strength and support when everything went to he77. And Capt. America showed him what being American is truely about…..
Report Post »Stark said he was put into a lab to make a super soldier. But it was Capt. America humanity,loyalty,and honor that put him in the lab.
Dagnabbit5
Posted on May 7, 2012 at 5:37amSome of you need to take the stick out of your arse and relax for bit.
Report Post »Others of you shouldn’t judge this movie without seeing it.
For those that are bashing the X-men, The Hellfire Club was always ran by business men. They used their mutant power to attain wealth.
Yes, comics are to left on most things but not all. Comics did help teach me not to judge someone on their appearance but on their actions.
RedManWalking
Posted on May 7, 2012 at 2:11amAvenging the last three years of the Obama farce. Avenging all the dead babies blessed by Obama. Avenging the loss of millions of jobs by Obama. Avenging the abandonment of the American Way of life by Obama. Avenging the collapse of the American economy by Obama. Avenging the loss of faith in the US Dollar by Obama. Avenging the wimpification of what makes boys boys by Obama. Avenging the destruction of health care in America by Obama. Avenging the denuding of the US Military by Obama. Avenging the desecration of the US Constitution by Obama. Avenging the attacks against the Catholic Church by Obama. Avenging the indecency to all Christian groups shown by Obama. Avenging the cruelty of the Obamas slapping the face of the American people. Avenging all the guns used to kill Americans and Mexicans laughed off by Obama. Avenging the end of the succession of fair elections of the US president. Avenging making number 44 a bad luck number. Avenging throwing away good jobs of the fossil fuel industry by Obama. Avenging the loss of national identity and stature done by Obama. Avenging the denial of liberty and freedom to our posterity by the arrogant stupidity of Obama, etc. ad infinitum. Avenging all this will be the election of Mitt Romney by the American people this November and the kicking to the wayside of Barack Obama.
Report Post »encinom
Posted on May 7, 2012 at 11:26amMy god are you a brain washed idiot. As W. destroyed the economy with his usless wars and his welfare for the rich in the form of tax breaks, he lost the millions of jobs, Obama has been adding jobs. Family planning, including abortion and contraceptives are both legal, have been his the Nixon era. Each and everyone of your points have been debunked and are nothing more than the lies told on Fox News and here on the Blaze. Do yourself a favor, read other news sources and get an education.
Report Post »Tide_Rider_2
Posted on May 7, 2012 at 2:01amWho has the money to pay for movies? With the 1% being only several thousands of people, who is going to these movies? Does Bimbo, the POTUS know how people are getting the money to go? Can one get into the movies using food stamps? Possibly the Liberal unions are shelling out their millions for people to go. BUT…….Maybe the so called poor and middle class are not so poor after all. Vote Bimbo out of office in November~~~~~~
Report Post »Rob_M
Posted on May 7, 2012 at 1:47amYou know I just dropped politics and enjoyed this movie, I suggest we all do the same. Stress people, stress.
Report Post »Shiroi Raion
Posted on May 7, 2012 at 1:35amI was expecting it to be filled with Liberal trash, but there was virtually no Liberal BS in it. They mentioned “clean energy” at first, but it was just a couple of times and unlike a typical Hollywood film, they didn’t obsess on it.
Report Post »There was a surprising number of hilarious moments. They left Captain America in his “stars and stripes” uniform. At the end of the movie… the audience applauded! I haven’t seen an audience applaud a movie in a LONG, LONG time.
My 15 year old loved it, my 70 year old mother loved it, and I loved it!
…but wow, movie costs are skyrocketing right along with most everything else. It was over $20 for the three of us even with a senior and a student discount.
Also, A NY Times critic hated it. LMAO Probably because it wasn’t based on Liberal BS. When the DVD comes out, we’ll be buying this one!
johnjamison
Posted on May 7, 2012 at 3:19pmThere was totally a liberal theme lokie was trying to establish a liberal society. A collective of one miond total fearful and depensed upon him.
Report Post »collegerepublic
Posted on May 7, 2012 at 1:13amI’m ashamed of a lot of you! The point of the movie was that we need heroes to inspire us again, and there were dozens of references in the movie that had nothing to do with liberals or any political side. One scene had a S.H.E.I.L.D member tell captain america that thor was basically a god and he responded, “there is only one god mam and he doesn’t dress up like that”. There wasn’t a single thing throughout the movie that involved politics and it was basically a fictional story of Classic Heroes saving the day. There was another scene where Captain America asked them if the old star and stripes uniform was outdated, and the Shield member responded by saying something like, “Today we need something a little outdated”. meaning that we needed something symbolic like the old Captain American uniform to restore that part of us. I never read the comics, but the movie was fun to watch and was all about how you shouldn’t kneel down to anyone and always stand up to aggressors regardless of how strong they are because your freedom is far more important!
Report Post »rmmauro01
Posted on May 7, 2012 at 4:52amcollegerepublic, The term wasn’t “outdated”, but “old-fashioned”, a better point. The line about God goes, “These guys come from legend. They’re pretty much gods.” And Cap answers, ” There‘s only one God ma’am. I‘m pretty sure he doesn’t dress like that.” Your post is right on. The Captain America movie also had the same sentiment. I‘ve take people who had never seen or heard of these stories or characters and don’t like action movies, and they loved this film!!
Report Post »johnjamison
Posted on May 8, 2012 at 1:26pmWhen Loki went on the elitist rant at the Hulk thought I’ld LMAO “Punny God”.
Report Post »blaaaaackwoman
Posted on May 7, 2012 at 1:11amI did an image search on Scarlett Johansson. Wow, maybe they should change her superheroine name to The JUGGSERNAUT.
Report Post »TheePolitinator
Posted on May 7, 2012 at 12:05amI refuse to give hollyweird a single penny ever again.
Report Post »Sun_Vine
Posted on May 7, 2012 at 12:45amI hope everyone who goes to see this remembers, the majority of Marvel and DC comics are Liberal in there meaning. In Green Arrow they have spoken about a Christian 911, in Teen Titans, being raised Liberal means you accept other Racial types, in marvel the new bad guys that took over the hellfire club were Conservatives, and business leaders. The X-men have been declared Liberals.
Report Post »Have fun and see the movie just do not forget what you fund.
Sun_Vine
Posted on May 7, 2012 at 12:53amFor those not in the know, Marvel and DC are Mostly Liberal houses.
Report Post »The Green Arrow spoke of a Christian 911, the teen titans explained that Liberal parenting helped raise more accepting kids.
The new bad guys in one of the recent X-men arcs was a bunch of business tycoons, and rich kids. The X-men have been identified as Liberal. Daken, Wolverines son is a bisexual. The list goes on and on.
If you give money to either, if you buy these for your kids, you are indoctrinating the young and old alike.
ICRedifURBlue
Posted on May 7, 2012 at 12:05am……Cause crisis and dissent……..run up debt and defraud the country……..ENTERTAIN ALL THE USEFUL IDIOTS……..we all better get ready for a life and death struggle to save our United States….
Report Post »encinom
Posted on May 7, 2012 at 12:06pmYou right wing fringe nuts, can not take a break from your own lunacy. I bet you are also a Paul-bot.
Report Post »Maxim Crux
Posted on May 6, 2012 at 11:59pmStrikingly, the amount of money spent internationally is what grossed the most. The world is looking for America to be the hero again perhaps. I saw the movie and the message was clear…unity against oppression.
Report Post »rmmauro01
Posted on May 7, 2012 at 4:55am“Unity against oppression.” Best post.
Report Post »Pontiac
Posted on May 6, 2012 at 11:17pm[Avengers’ Smashes Box Office Record ]
Report Post »Let me know when they start counting the actual number of tickets sold vs the number of tickets sold in for other movies.
Dagnabbit5
Posted on May 7, 2012 at 4:52amDid you bother to read the article…
“As admission prices rise, Hollywood’s record-breakers often take in more money but sell fewer tickets than previous blockbusters. But “The Avengers” took in so much money that it’s the undisputed champ among debuts.
Based on average admission prices the years they were released, “The Dark Knight” and “Spider-Man 3″ had led with about 22 million tickets sold each over opening weekend. Today’s average prices put “The Avengers” tally at around 25.6 million tickets sold.”
Report Post »Pontiac
Posted on May 7, 2012 at 3:20pm[Did you bother to read the article…]
Report Post »Nope. I don’t waste time reading about “Hollywood”. I stopped wasting money on them more than a decade ago. Even then it wasn’t much. Yarrr, interwebs.
Satrix
Posted on May 6, 2012 at 10:22pmLet’s try the diplomatic approach to OWS; send Capt. America to reason with them. If that doesn’t work, send the HULK.
How much does Tony Stark pay in taxes anyway? Does Thor have another adopted evil brother living on Pennsylvania Ave?
Report Post »No Name Yet
Posted on May 6, 2012 at 9:21pmUh Oh!!! Making all these millions of dollars makes these Super Heroes officially 1%ers and pure evil right? Obama will ask for them to pay their “fair share”. Occupy will probably line up to protest these heroes. Al Gore will complain they cause Global Warming. Biden will probably be on record with yet another gaffe about them. Occutards vs. Avengers Now that’s a movie!!!!!
Report Post »black9897
Posted on May 6, 2012 at 9:56pmSuch a great movie! Love Marvel, love all these guys. Too bad the real spider man got screwed over and wasn’t able to be in this. Having Toby McGuire with the rest of these great actors/superheros would have been amazing!
Report Post »The_Postal
Posted on May 6, 2012 at 8:46pmIt was a solid movie you can take your kids too. The lines about Captain America were spot on, yeah, he’s old fashion, but right now, we need old fashion.
Put politics aside for awhile people. Go see a good movie with your family and have a good time with them. If you can’t manage to have a life with your family then nothing we are all fighting for to keep our country is worth a damn.
Report Post »Swancman
Posted on May 6, 2012 at 8:21pmThe best superhero movie ever made, hands down!!! One of the best films ever made; I found nothing wrong with this film. Make sure to stay after the film and after watching the credits; there are two ‘secret’ clips, and one of them reveals the next villain!
Report Post »GLENNS_FUTURE_BABY_MOMMA
Posted on May 6, 2012 at 8:47pmEverything out of HollyWeird is sick and Godless and perverse! Including this movie … I’m sure! All they make now is liberal trash! The last movie I saw was October Baby! Now that’s a fine film. Something worthy of Ronald Reagan! Usually I only see movies with Kirk Cameron, but I mad an exception.
Let California and all of the LEFT coast fall into the ocean. I’ll be damned if I go to see a movie based on a funny book, anyway!
Report Post »RANGER1965
Posted on May 6, 2012 at 10:24pm@Baby Momma and friends
Uh…yeah…
I mean it’s one thing to play the uber conservative role. Some of you ******* trolls aren’t half bad writers. But when the stupidity and sarcasm becomes this thick, it sort of turns back on itself; and makes the whole attempt seem kind of desperate and pathetic.
Might wanna work on it a bit. I’m sure you can do better if you really try.
Hey! maybe you can get all your occupy friends together and make it a group project. I know the whole individual thing isn‘t your cup o’ tea.
Have a nice day.
Ranger
Report Post »sick6james
Posted on May 6, 2012 at 7:46pmHulk and Captain America stole the entire movie. Hulk for his epic one-sided fight near the end and Captain America for his entire role in the movie (some of the best quotes are from Captain America, including his references about Thor and Loki being “gods” (”There is only one God, and he doesn’t dress like that”)). Iron Man/Tony Stark is his same one-liner self, although his mkVII armor was awesome, and Thor is still just Thor.
Report Post »Baddoggy
Posted on May 6, 2012 at 8:50pmThere were several Bible references in the mobie. Your ears had to be tuned to them though.
Report Post »Ozgard
Posted on May 6, 2012 at 11:40pmI agree. I saw this tonight and I thought it was a very good movie. All the characters came together well, and for once I enjoyed The Hulk! I felt Hulk had many of the best scenes. Bravo Joss Whedon!
Report Post »sick6james
Posted on May 7, 2012 at 4:46pm@BADDOGGY, Yes, there was Iron Man‘s reference to Jonah and the whale and Nick Fury’s references as well. The reason I dug the Captain America quote the most was due to the fact that he still held his faith even after gaining his power, and believed his faith to be true.
Here’s the kicker, while I love religious people of most faiths, I am still an atheist. The old and new testaments are a good read, but not something that I will devote my life to as the “truth”. They are good guides for morality and lessons learned, but I do not believe in the eternal struggle of god and the devil over the souls of man, nor do I believe in heaven or hell (or god or the devil, for that matter). I do enjoy people who are actively practicing and good faithful people, but I have never believed in the “mystery” of god and will never do so.
Report Post »Walkabout
Posted on May 6, 2012 at 7:31pmJoss Whedon is the man. He produces cult classics & now he is tier 1 in Hollywood.
Report Post »DOA74656
Posted on May 6, 2012 at 7:26pmDid anyone else notice that at the end of the movie during the media montage that the senator that spoke out against the Avengers saying they were the cause of the problem was the DEMOCRAT senator from NY? I wonder how that slipped through
Report Post »scroadkill
Posted on May 6, 2012 at 9:23pmYes, I saw that as well and made sure to point it out to my 10yr old son!
Report Post »ShyLow
Posted on May 6, 2012 at 6:46pmThe powers that be, are trying to bring out the hulk in all of us
Report Post »woodyb
Posted on May 6, 2012 at 7:18pmBig Deal, but how do NUMBERS of tickets sold compare with the days when a double feature with cartoon, serial and a newreel cost all of 10 cents??
Report Post »oneillptgd
Posted on May 6, 2012 at 6:27pmPeople hunger for positive message from heroic movies. It was alot of fun to go to the movies and watch ‘the good guys” win. Don’t want to give the movie away, but it was like the movies I saw in the early sixties. Bad guys vs good guys. Honor, redemption and courage!
Report Post »myway
Posted on May 6, 2012 at 7:37pmYah, Samuel Jackson didn’t say f-ck once. Must have been very hard. They got a shot in on clean energy for us.
Report Post »portague
Posted on May 6, 2012 at 10:24pmyes they got clean energy shot in there but the clean energy the movie refers to is basically a type of stable nuclear engergy.
Report Post »Baddoggy
Posted on May 6, 2012 at 5:36pmGood movie…almost all of it was CGI which makes my head swim in short bursts…
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on May 6, 2012 at 5:32pmAh… for the Good Ole Days… when Productivity gave the people what they wanted and added to the GNP… rather than Entertainment & Masturbation!
Report Post »copatriots
Posted on May 6, 2012 at 5:28pmWell, great, let’s all go to the moooovies, let’s all go to the movies…… as our country falls.
Hey, folks, support more leftist entertainers so we can find out how much they hate us, this country and capitalism that they ALL benefitted from.
Report Post »Baddoggy
Posted on May 6, 2012 at 5:37pmThe Nation is going to fall no matter what. We are dead broke. Keep your powder dry for the rebuild.
Report Post »Thatsitivehadenough
Posted on May 6, 2012 at 5:22pmInteresting. But, what is Obama up to while we are all being distracted by his pals in Hollywood?
Report Post »Mark0331
Posted on May 6, 2012 at 5:52pmHe is: shooting hoops, smoking Newports, wondering how he can use Martial Law to help him win the election and channeling Mao.
Report Post »MAMMY_NUNN
Posted on May 6, 2012 at 8:16pmI’m sure it included “I WANNABE” moment what ever he was doing.
Report Post »