BOX OFFICE: Is It Possible For THE AVENGERS To Set An Opening Weekend Record In US?

BOX OFFICE: Is It Possible For THE AVENGERS To Set An Opening Weekend Record In US?

Industry analysts are already predicting a huge opening weekend for the Joss Whedon-directed upcoming film The Avengers, but how big will it actually be at the box office? More after the jump...

By WolvieCBM - Apr 09, 2012 09:04 AM EST
Filed Under: Avengers
Source: E! Online


Back in 2008, a film called Iron Man, starring Robert Downey, Jr. was released by Marvel Studios. It was a film that many thought it wouldn't be a success at the box office. Not to mention it was also a very risky investment for Marvel Studios. Then the film opened, and guess what? Film took almost $100 million in the first weekend, and went on to become a big success. A character that was known in comics, but never had a film adaptation, Iron Man was still a B-list character. After the release of the film, it all changed. We got Thor, another Hulk film, and of course, Captain America. All those films did good enough at the box office, because next month, The Avengers is being released. The Joss Whedon-directed superhero team up of a lifetime will feature all those characters that had their own films, and while box office numbers are mostly important for future sequels and not the quality of the film, according to industry analyst of Exhibitor Relations Jeff Bock (via E! Online), The Avengers could set a record for biggest superhero opening in US:

"...it's "entirely possible" that the Robert Downey Jr.-led Avengers could top The Dark Knight for bragging rights as the biggest-opening superhero movie ($158.4 million). Bock foresees a scenario where The Avengers defeats The Dark Knight, and tops Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2, which, with a $169.2 million Friday-Sunday debut last year, is Hollywood's all-time opener, but only hangs onto the record until The Dark Knight Rises opens July 20."

In other words, this will be a big summer for the box office. What's interesting here is that Bock mentions an even bigger debut for The Dark Knight Rises (which is not surprising in any way), the Christopher Nolan-directed final chapter in his Batman saga. And when I say interesting, this is what he said:

"Is $200 million even possible?"

In the end, it won't matter who tops who, but rather that all these films we are looking forward to, and have been waiting for so long, are great films in general, and if breaking a couple of records in the meantime is possible, I say why not? Also, when it comes to The Avengers, Marvel is not the only one paying attention. This is the first time that we are getting a film with (superhero) characters that are already established in their own adaptations, and having them in one film will be quite a spectacle, especially for the fans. And speaking of fans, it's also worth mentioning that AMC's Ultimate Marvel Marathon is sold out a month before the release across US.

Starring Robert Downey, Jr., Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston, Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Samuel L. Jackson, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner and Cobie Smulders, The Avengers is set to hit theatres on May 4, 2012.

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TheStranger
TheStranger - 4/9/2012, 9:45 AM
Sure it's possible, why not?
Ghostfire
Ghostfire - 4/9/2012, 9:46 AM
Who knows, its a possibility. Records are meant to be broken, only time will tell. But as long its a CMB I'm fine with that.
Ghostfire
Ghostfire - 4/9/2012, 9:47 AM
I forgot to add.. advanced screenings for us yanks are this weekend btw. Go to their facebook page.
CaptainObvious
CaptainObvious - 4/9/2012, 9:47 AM
It will probably have an opening weekend between $140M and $160M.
Berger45
Berger45 - 4/9/2012, 9:49 AM
Of course Avengers will beat the Dark Knight on opening weekend! It got 4 major but separate superheroes who've already gotten their unique films! If it doesnt it will be a bit sad but its no crisis. Now if it doesnt then the Marvelites will get their hands full of Batman crap. And if it does, the other side will retaliate.
I honestly don't care who leads in the box office as long as it makes results by creating more comicbook related movies!
Wildaniel
Wildaniel - 4/9/2012, 9:50 AM
I think it will be around 100-120 million dollars range in the USA the first 3 days.

It could make more since movie tickets are higher then ever. Also 3d will help bump up the prices.
MarkCassidy
MarkCassidy - 4/9/2012, 9:51 AM
I really don't care what either movie makes, it goes without saying neither will under-perform to the point that Marvel or DC decide to stop making movies! But I'm pretty sure TDKR will make quite a bit more than The Avengers opening weekend for what it's worth.
biggcess
biggcess - 4/9/2012, 9:51 AM
Without a doubt.

Let's be honest, who's not going to see this movie.

Except for Gusto, who might bring his reading glasses instead of the #D ones and miss everything. LOL
RidiculousFanBoyDemands
RidiculousFanBoyDemands - 4/9/2012, 9:51 AM
It won't beat Harry Potter, that fan base was much larger than The Avengers, plus it appealed to a lot wider audience. That plus it was the last Harry Potter movie was a perfect recipe for success that The Avengers won't be able to top.
Oxion
Oxion - 4/9/2012, 9:52 AM
Gotta wait for reviews, got a feeling this movie might be cheesy and not everyone is gonna break their backs to see the Avengers. If the movie gives people a reason to mob in hords to see it, then yea, but gonna play it by ear on this one. Caps headgear honestly doesn't help.
GingerBird
GingerBird - 4/9/2012, 9:53 AM
I don't see this film beating Hunger Games.
Fogs
Fogs - 4/9/2012, 9:54 AM
Most people I know, comic book lovers or not, are going to watch it. I've never seen such a commotion before.
Fantine
Fantine - 4/9/2012, 9:55 AM
I think the bar is set extremely high for Avengers. I have a feeling its not going to do as well as everyone thinks...
Fogs
Fogs - 4/9/2012, 9:55 AM
Wow, the Nolanites came here all at once! cool!
dnno1
dnno1 - 4/9/2012, 9:55 AM
I don't think it's going to happen.
AlexdoxA
AlexdoxA - 4/9/2012, 9:56 AM
Avengers has a broader target audience than tdkr, but then again, tdkr is directed to the ones who pay the tickets...
Fogs
Fogs - 4/9/2012, 9:57 AM
... because kids won't see a pg-13 bat movie, right? yeah, dream on with your "my-movie-is-for-adults" failed logic.
forthesakeofnow
forthesakeofnow - 4/9/2012, 9:57 AM
before anyone says it, remember that the audiences for iron man, hulk, captain america and thor are THE SAME GROUP OF PEOPLE!!!.

The avengers wont draw in anyone who didnt care about the solo films, just because it shows them all together.

TDK made the money it did due to quality backing up the hype and interest in ledger bringing in cinema fans as audiences in general.

TDKR obviously has that backing it up as well as more interest in nolan after inception than TDK had from the prestige, batman begins and memento combined.
plus the "last of the trilogy" thing is going to help.

avengers has 3D in a lot of cinemas and TDKR has IMAX in quite a few cinemas, but those cinemas show it all day every day even with very early mornign screenings at 3am, 6am ect.

its going to be interesting to see how it all goes down
clogan
clogan - 4/9/2012, 9:57 AM
Funny when you look at the last 5 comments and see Batman related stuff on their avatar.

[frick] off pricks, enjoy the film. It's not like YOU're gonna get any money whether the films tops TDK or not.

You fanboys are [frick]ing miserable I tell you.
Rodimus9
Rodimus9 - 4/9/2012, 9:57 AM
Opening night= 45million
Weekend= 90-110million
Overall= 175-220million
Foreign=275million
Grand total=450-500million

BRandom
BRandom - 4/9/2012, 9:58 AM
@ TheSharkKnight
You might be the most annoying little [frick] to ever grace this page with you two bit comments...
You are full of shit if you say you won't go see this film. I love batman, and even Supes is my favorite, but to say you are a CBM or even a comic fan at all...then you would have to be excited for this film

PS...you suck a fat Gusto...go eat shit
clogan
clogan - 4/9/2012, 9:58 AM
Oh, those 5 comments are for Sharkknight and other Nolanites. Didn't know that many people would post in between.
Fogs
Fogs - 4/9/2012, 9:59 AM
@forthesakeofnow - I AGREE!

well, at least on the "its going to be interesting to see how it all goes down" part.
Fogs
Fogs - 4/9/2012, 9:59 AM
@BRandom - he's a kid. Don't tell him to suck nothing or his parents will sue you.
ThanToast
ThanToast - 4/9/2012, 9:59 AM
I could see it beating Dark Knight, then being trumped when TDKR comes out.
niknik
niknik - 4/9/2012, 10:00 AM
Frankly I don't see the big attraction for Dark Knight Rises that puts it above and beyond Returns. No Heath Ledger as the Joker this time around is a big minus for many movie goers. I'm sure it will do well but I just don't see the big draw that would eclipse the last film. Not happening.
BackwardGalaxy
BackwardGalaxy - 4/9/2012, 10:00 AM
I find it interesting that people still think of this as the first crossover film that has ever happened. It's not, folks.
GreendaleHumanBeing
GreendaleHumanBeing - 4/9/2012, 10:00 AM
Avengers is going to dominate the May box office.
5/04: Avengers
5/11: Dark Shadow, The Dictator
5/18: Battleship
5/25: MiB3, Moonrise Kingdom
6/1: Snow White & the Huntsmen, Piranha 3DD
6/8: Prometheus (Avengers run ends here)

The numbers are going to be amazing.
mid-July and August are going to be TDKR's time to shine. Unless either Total Recall or The Bourne Legacy are sleeper hits (doubt it simply due to competition).
TDKR may go on an Avatar/Titanic run well into September.
Fogs
Fogs - 4/9/2012, 10:00 AM
@Gaston - I hope after Avengers WB starts making plans for a World's Finest movie.
forthesakeofnow
forthesakeofnow - 4/9/2012, 10:01 AM
@Fogs

so you dont agree with the rest of it? lol
StrangerX
StrangerX - 4/9/2012, 10:01 AM
I know I didn't expect The Hunger Games to take the top spot for 3 weeks in a row, but it did. SO anything is possible!!
Fogs
Fogs - 4/9/2012, 10:01 AM
@BackwardGalaxy - who's saying that? Butthurt much?
Fogs
Fogs - 4/9/2012, 10:02 AM
@forthesakeofnow - basically, lol! But it's all cool.
RedSkull667
RedSkull667 - 4/9/2012, 10:02 AM
Advanced booking is already full on major websites
you can calculate the sum from there only


also people who say that this movie will be a flop are high on weed

That can only be the possible explanation
GreendaleHumanBeing
GreendaleHumanBeing - 4/9/2012, 10:02 AM
The Avengers or The Dark Knight Rises?



Why not both?
BRandom
BRandom - 4/9/2012, 10:02 AM
Well i aimed his suckage at gusto...Figured he's been down that road before and could handle it..

Still, no real harm meant to the lad, but it's past annoying..
forthesakeofnow
forthesakeofnow - 4/9/2012, 10:03 AM
@Fogs

haha fine, its logic based on facts though aint it? lol
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