“Avengers: Age of Ultron” dominated the global box office this weekend, picking up $168 million in foreign ticket sales.
The comicbook adventure’s worldwide bounty now tops off at $626.7 million after 12 days in theaters — “Avengers: Age of Ultron” opened in certain key international territories last week in advance of its domestic debut on May 1.
Among the assorted records it torched, the film has posted the biggest opening weekend of all time in Brazil, Mexico, Hong Kong, the Philippines, and Ecuador. Last weekend, the picture also scored the highest global haul for an Imax release, with $25 million in receipts.
“Avengers: Age of Ultron” has now opened in 71% of the global marketplace, but several key territories remain. The sequel will open in China, the world’s second largest marketplace, on May 12, and Japan, the third largest, on July 4.
A stronger dollar and wilting exchange rates in parts of Europe and Russia are causing some conversion headaches for “Avengers: Age of Ultron” and blockbusters of its ilk. Disney, which is releasing the film, says it is pacing 31% ahead of the first “Avengers” in local currency, and is ahead of its predecessor in terms of dollars, though it did provide a percentage.
The success of the “Avengers” reunion along with “Cinderella” pushed Disney past the $1 billion mark internationally.
“Avengers: Age of Ultron” wasn’t the only film putting up big numbers. “Furious 7″ continued its torrid run, adding $52.8 million to its $1.4 billion in winnings. The action adventure is now the fourth highest-grossing global release, traipsing past “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2,” behind only “The Avengers” ($1.5 billion), “Titanic” ($2.2 billion) and “Avatar” ($2.8 billion).
“Silent Separation,” an adaptation of a popular Chinese novel, scored third place on foreign charts with $28 million. The top five was rounded out by the DreamWorks Animation hit “Home” with $17 million, and the Hong Kong crime thriller “Helios,” with $16.9 million.
Source: Variety
