Marvel’s blockbuster collaboration of franchises Avengers Assemble is the third highest grossing film ever at $1.5 billion and the established the model of a cinematic universe. Since then, Iron Man ($1.2 billion), Thor ($640 million, Captain America ($710 million) and Guardians of the Galaxy ($770 million) have all thrived but haven’t quite replicated the success of Joss Whedon’s superhero masterpiece. Last week, we predicted the film’s sequel (Age of Ultron) number one spot correctly and we’ll see quite how much it can take in its opening weekend.
US:
- The Avengers: Age of Ultron – Director: Joss Whedon – $191 million
- Fast & Furious 7 – James Wan – $6.6 million
- The Age of Adaline – Lee Toland Krieger – $6.2 million
- Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2 – Andy Fickman – $5.9 million
- Home – Tim Johnson – $3.5 million
UK:
- The Avengers: Age of Ultron – Joss Whedon – £8.6 million
- Far From the Madding Crowd – Thomas Vinterberg – £1.5 million
- Unfriended – Levan Gabriadze – £1.3 million
- Fast & Furious 7 – James Wan – £1.1 million
- Home – Tim Johnson – £0.7 million
This week I’ve scored 4/10 while Age of Ultron has scored a higher opening weekend than Furious 7, Hunger Games: Catching Fire, Transformers: Age of Extinction, Man of Steel, Iron Man 3, and The Dark Knight Rises and is the biggest debut since the original’s $207 million haul in 2012 (retaining its all time record). The film will undoubtedly be among the top three of all time very soon. The surprise addition to the UK box office is Thomas Hardy’s Victorian drama Far From the Madding Crowd starring Carey Mulligan which has successfully provided a lucrative alternative to the blockbusters.
US:
- The Avengers: Age of Ultron – Joss Whedon
- Before I Wake – Mike Flanagan
- Hot Pursuit – Anne Fletcher
- Fast & Furious 7 – James Wan
- Maggie – Henry Hobson
UK:
- The Avengers: Age of Ultron – Joss Whedon
- Spooks: The Greater Good – Bharat Nalluri
- The Age of Adaline – Lee Toland Krieger
- Far From the Madding Crowd – Thomas Vinterberg
- Unfriended – Levan Gabriadze
Scarlett Johansson and Mark Ruffalo in The Avengers: Age of Ultron, this week’s US and UK number one.