BOX OFFICE: GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY Beats AVENGERS Record; THE DARK KNIGHT Next?
As it takes #1 for the fourth week, Guardians of the Galaxy has beaten one of The Avengers' records, despite grossing only half as much. Meanwhile, the James Gunn helmed Marvel Studios movie might just be about to top one of the records held by The Dark Knight too. Read on for details!
This is Guardians of the Galaxy's sixth weekend at the North American box office, and it's about to hit a milestone among all the Marvel movies. Though it hasn't had a consecutive run at the top (after being beaten by Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles a week after opening), the movie has taken the #1 spot more times - four to be exact - than any other past Marvel release. That means it beats Captain America: The Winter Soldier from earlier this year, and perhaps even more shockingly, 2012's The Avengers! Both of those stayed at #1 for only three weeks each.
Guardians of the Galaxy has obviously beaten the former by becoming the highest grossing movie domestically of 2014 with a haul closing on $300 million, but how could it have more #1's than Joss Whedon's superhero ensemble when that grossed over $623 million?
Well, as Deadline explains, "Essentially, Guardians has been able to blaze a trail at the B.O. given the lack of strong franchise titles in the slumpy frame of late August and September. Not one title is eating into its grosses." As of right now, Guardians of the Galaxy is tied with The Dark Knight as that too was at #1 for four weeks. However, it's likely that the movie will top that next weekend and break yet another record as it shouldn't have too much of a problem holding off competition from Dolphin Tale 2 and No Good Deed. We'll just have to wait and see!