i've seen it twice already on the net... prolly better on the big screen
Posted on 04/29/2012 1:38:45 PM PDT by TheBigB
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The superhero saga "The Avengers" lived up to its blockbuster buzz with $178.4 million in overseas ticket sales days before it opens in U.S. theaters.
Domestic audiences generally passed on a bunch of new flicks as fans seem to be in anticipation mode for Disney's "The Avengers," which debuts Friday in the United States after launching in 39 other countries a week earlier.
The huge overseas launch will help fan the frenzy already in place for "The Avengers," the superhero mash-up of Marvel Comics idols whose cast includes Robert Downey Jr., Scarlett Johansson, Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Jeremy Renner and Samuel L. Jackson.
"You hope that the magnitude of this kind of opening sends a signal that this is a for-everyone film," said Dave Hollis, head of distribution for Disney. "You can't put up these kinds of numbers if it's just for guys or just for the fans. These numbers say that it is for everyone, 8 to 80."
The Sony Screen Gems ensemble comedy "Think Like a Man" was No. 1 domestically for the second-straight weekend with $18 million.
Four movies were bunched up for the No. 2 spot in the $11 million range: Sony's animated comedy "The Pirates! Band of Misfits" with $11.4 million; the Warner Bros. romantic drama "The Lucky One" with $11.3 million; Lionsgate's blockbuster "The Hunger Games" with $11.25 million; and Universal's romantic comedy "The Five-Year Engagement" with $11.2 million.
Those four flicks were so close that their rankings from Sunday studio estimates could change once final numbers are released Monday.
Along with "Pirates," whose voice cast was led by Hugh Grant, and "Five-Year Engagement," which stars Jason Segel and Emily Blunt, the other newcomers were Jason Statham's action tale "Safe" from Lionsgate at No. 6 with $7.7 million and John Cusack's Edgar Allan Poe mystery "The Raven" from Relativity Media at No. 7 with $7.3 million.
......excerpted.... Along with the United States, "The Avengers" has yet to open in other big markets that include Japan, China and Russia.
Among the overseas totals for "The Avengers": $24.7 million in Great Britain; $19.7 million in Australia; $15.9 million in Mexico; $12.9 million in South Korea; and $12.9 million in France.
Directed by Joss Whedon ("Buffy the Vampire Slayer"), "The Avengers" has strong word-of-mouth domestically from fans who were able to see advanced screenings.
Critics also have given the film high marks, and the publicity blast from the overseas revenues could push the movie into record-debut territory. The "Harry Potter" finale now has the top opening weekend domestically with $169.2 million, followed by "The Dark Knight" with $158.4 million and "The Hunger Games" with $152.5 million.
The folks over at Marvel had some marketing genius. Introduce most of the characters of the Avengers in their own movies, with little hits at the Avengers and then bring them all together.
i've seen it twice already on the net... prolly better on the big screen
I can’t wait. It looks like an extraordinary movie. I was pleased with Iron Man, Thor, and Captain America. They kept just missing the mark with the Hulk but three out of 4 isn’t bad.
Why would it open in 39 other countries first??
So who played Emma Peel in this one?
Some of those Marvel movies have bombed of course, bit overall it was a success. They risked their company on those movies.
That's where Obama is sending all our money...people with money go to movies.
Ralph and Uma are going to be p.o.’ed when they find out they aren’t in this one ...
How about Green Lantern and Punisher?
They did have 3 hits with Spiderman though.
Because America is no longer the primary motion picture market.
Libtard douchebag can't open. Buh-bye Cutsack...
Come July....
I thought Hulk was a good movie. I think the problem with the Hulk was one of expectations. People were expecting entire cities to be destroyed.
Green Lantern is a DC movie, not Marvel.
You’re on a roll today.
Oh he can open fine. Source Code made fat cash. The problem with The Raven was who cares. It’s basically the same plot as the first episode of Castle (killer mimicking events in books, bring in the author of the books to stop the killings), only pre-cellphone, and pretty universally panned. I’m a big Poe fan but have no interest in the movie because it’s such a redundant plot.
I’ve seen it too - it’s not out yet?
IBTT (In Before the Theaters)
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