Avengers: Age of Ultron Scores Second Biggest Opening Weekend Ever

The sequel grossed $187.7 million at the domestic box office, making $627 million overall in just two weeks

Avengers: Age of Ultron dominated the box office throughout the weekend and earned $187.7 million domestically, the second biggest in the box office history. However, it could not break the all-time record of the biggest opening ever, set by its predecessor “Avengers”, which amassed a record $207.4 million in 2012. 

The $187.7 million opening is huge by any standard but well short of what was expected earlier, as many of the analysts were predicting an opening as high as $220 million after seeing the smashing first day gross of $84.5 million which was bigger than the original film’s opening day numbers ($80.8 million). There is a possibility that some of the other factors such as the start of NBA Playoffs, Kentucky Derby and Mayweather vs. Pacquiao boxing match, which was declared “The Fight of the Century”, might have hindered its progression.

Nevertheless, it is a victory for Marvel indeed because it now holds the record for all top three domestic opening weekends. Marvel’s “Iron Man 3”, released in 2013, takes the third spot with $174.1 million. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows Part 2 and Transformers: Dark of the Moon round out the top five with $169.2 million and $162.6 million respectively.  

Avengers: Age of Ultron have now grossed more than $627 million worldwide in just 12 days even without hitting the theaters of a big market China where the film is scheduled to release on /4/12. If it keeps up its current pace, the film will likely pass $1 billion in the coming days. 

According to Variety, the remaining top films of the weekend are: The Age of Adeline, jumping ahead of Furious 7 with $6.25 million, Furious 7 ($6.11 million) which is now the fourth highest grossing film of all time, Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2 ($5.55 million) and Home ($3.3 million).