Initial projections were that the blockbuster would perform well, in the $150m range, especially after it failed to beat Harry Potter 7.2's opening day record ($91m, which had Avengers beat by a good $11m) but, over the course of the weekend, The Avengers made a mighty comeback becoming the fastest movie to reach $100 million, $150 million and, finally, $200 million.
It also set new records for Saturday ($69m) and Sunday ($50m) grosses and boasts the highest per-theatre average for a nationwide release ($46,057 a pop).
Now it seems the already staggering victory could be that little bit more staggering, as Deadline report that the Marvel epic made as much as $55m on Sunday, kicking the already record-breaking three-day total to $205m.
When compared to Marvel Studios properties, the opening gross is phenomenal. No Marvel movie has made this much, much like in the UK, The Avengers opening weekend has already beaten the US lifetime gross of Thor ($181m) and Captain America ($177m), and only another good weekend away from beating Iron Man ($318m) and Iron Man 2 ($312m). Let's just overlook The Incredible Hulk, out of respect for the Jade Giant's dignity.
When compared to other movies, however, the result is downright shocking. The Avengers has managed to beat out major blockbusters like Harry Potter, The Dark Knight, The Hunger Games and Spider-Man 3.
Here is the top 10 for the US opening weekends:
1 Marvel's The Avengers - $200,300,000 - 5/4/2012
2 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 - $169,189,427 - 7/15/2011
3 The Dark Knight - $158,411,483 - 7/18/2008
4 The Hunger Games - $152,535,747 - 3/23/2012
5 Spider-Man 3 - $151,116,516 - 5/4/2007
6 The Twilight Saga: New Moon - $142,839,137 - 11/20/2009
7 The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1 - $138,122,261 - 11/18/2011
8 Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest - $135,634,554 - 7/7/2006
9 Iron Man 2 - $128,122,480 - 5/7/2010
10 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 - $125,017,372 - 11/19/2010
In addition to the incredible US opening, takings from the other 52 markets give the blockbuster a 12 day foreign total of $441.5m which, when combined with the US opening, accounts for a $642m worldwide total. The only major territory left is Japan, which will finally get in on the Avenging action in August.
It looks like the superhero is here to say and after the reinvigorating boost that The Avengers gave the genre, this comic geek could not be happier.
EDIT: The final tally is in and it appears The Avengers actually made $207m. It may take some time to topple this one.
Source: Box Office Mojo, Deadline, (EDIT) THR
