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Excelsior!

The Avengers Officially Has the Highest Grossing Opening Weekend

by Susana Polo | 10:30 am, May 7th, 2012


Time for some celebratory Middle Eastern food: The Avengers has, by all preliminary reports, smashed the box office record for opening weekend grosses by a lead of $35 million. The previous record was held by Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2, at $169.2 million, which, yes, means that The Avengers pulled in $205 million dollars this weekend, not counting the $650 million it’s already pulled in overseas.

That means that, within this weekend and US audiences alone, The Avengers has almost recouped its operational budget.

Whedon made the blockbuster for a cool $220 million, so just give the film a few more days to recoup that and its marketing budget of $100 million. For comparison, The Hunger Games, highest grossing action film with a female lead, debuted with a $152 million opening weekend, and The Dark Knight with $158.

Basically, if Hollywood doesn’t let Joss Whedon do whatever he wants from now on… well, we’ll still think it’s just as super dumb as we always have.

(via Blastr and Deadline.)

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  • http://twitter.com/FroWillis Sarah

    When will Hollywood finally learn that letting a nerd make the nerdy movies (instead of Hollywood) means they will get all the nerdy money AND non-nerdy money because it’ll just be better? Do they not understand how many worship at the alter of Whedon? 

    I haven’t seen the Avengers yet (finals), but I will!

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=677347040 Mike J. Justin

     What she said

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Todd-Jordan/1295574604 Todd Jordan

    I’ll bet Edward Norton is kicking himself right about now…

  • Katie Marinelli

    They confirmed a Black Widow solo movie. Why no coverage on that by themarysue?

  • http://twitter.com/briecs Brianna Sheldon

    I don’t think it’s actually been confirmed, and they have mentioned it at least offhand before.

  • Katie Marinelli

    It’s been confirmed and ScarJo said its a prequel to the Avengers. 

  • http://www.thenerdybird.com/ Jill Pantozzi

    I haven’t seen that confirmation anywhere. (I’ve heard her say she would be up for it if they decided to do it.) Do you have a link with confirmation?

  • John Wao

    I saw it Friday morning to a sold out theater. It exceeded my expectations but, I may be biased.

    Everyone gets their chance to shine but, the Hulk was the star of the movie in my opinion.

    There are two after credit scenes so stick around.

    Joss Whedon may be the third member of the Billion Dollar club.

  • John Wao

    Not as much as the folks who run DC…

  • John Wao

    So if this movie makes a billion dollars at the box office does that mean Serenity 2 is a go?

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1208921 Nikki Lincoln

    I’m not biased (that I know of…) and it exceeded my expectations also. I was laughing the whole time. Just a really fantastic movie. 

  • Jen Roberts

     It actually seems like Disney has learned this lesson. They’re letting Marvel do what they want to do, and it turned out awesome. They let Jason Segel do what he wanted to do with the Muppets Movie, and it turned out awesome (at least for Muppet nostalgics like myself and everyone I know). They let Pixar…well, okay, Pixar has pretty much replaced Disney Animation, but still, they let Pixar do what they want, and it’s turned out awesome.

    Disney really seems to have come around to the idea that micromanaging stuff into the ground isn’t how you achieve excellent product. If you buy a company because they’re doing great stuff, just stand back and let them continue to do great stuff…and earn you scads of money in the process.

  • http://twitter.com/Super_Widget Joanna

    I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Joss Whedon should direct all of the movies.

  • TKS

    To my knowledge, Disney only micromanages stuff with the “Disney” name on it.  I don’t think Mickey’s telling ESPN how to telecast football games, and I’m fairly certain Quentin Tarantino didn’t get a voicemail about Kill Bill being too violent.

    Unless it says “Disney” on it, all they care about is whether or not it makes money.

  • Anonymous

    Same. I had SO much fun! Plan on seeing it at least three more times in theaters. 

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1188702941 Christine Mooers

    …which I why I should have bought my tix online weeks ago because when I got to the mall they were sold out…

  • Carmen Sandiego

    This is exactly where I’d hoped this conversation would go.

  • Carmen Sandiego

     Citation, pls.  I would LOVE to have this confirmed.

  • Carmen Sandiego

     I’ve already seen it twice and want to see it again.  I thought it started poorly to play ‘catch up’ and set up the next Marvel movies, but it really hit its swing and went full Joss and then all was well.

  • http://profile.yahoo.com/F6WDMXYFH6S5NTOYGNP6WPXGFA Sarah

    Is anyone else ready for a Joss Whedon/Steven Moffat collaboration? Because that would be amazing.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1208921 Nikki Lincoln

    I almost never do repeat theater trips (exception Dark Knight) and I’m planning on going back as well.

  • Anonymous

    I have not heard it confirmed either but I would love it to be true.

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