Disney/Marvel’s AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR has only been in theaters for one day and it’s already making box office history. Today, it was reported that the film launched with a most-impressive total of $39 million in Thursday night preview screenings, making it the fourth-highest ever, behind STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS, STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI, and HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS – PART 2. Infinity‘s preview total also crushed the studio’s previous record for a Thursday night opening, which was set three years ago with the release of AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON ($27.6 million).
After opening on 4,474 screens this Friday, Marvel’s latest money maker is expected to pull anywhere from $225 million to $245 million, with a chance to cross the $250 million mark. I’m sure that this will be music to Disney/Marvel’s ears, as the film cost the studio a reported $300 million to produce. For the moment, the biggest opening weekend of all time belongs to STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS, which in 2015 had earned $248 million during its four-day opening salvo.
In talking about the success of AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR, Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst with comScore, says that he’s not at all surprised by the film’s ability to surpass expectations at the box office.
“‘Infinity War’ is an irresistible confection, a pure popcorn movie that boasts an unprecedented level of concentrated superhero star power that will deliver massive and enthusiastic crowds to multiplexes around the world and prove once again that the power and allure of the communal and immersive movie theater experience for which a film like this is tailor made, remains undeniable,” he added.
Do you think that AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR will go on to become the highest-grossing film of all time? Are you of the belief that it has the power to defeat Marvel’s BLACK PANTHER, which has earned a total of $3.52 billion in receipts, during its theatrical run?
One thing that’s for certain is that I’m happy to have contributed two-tickets-worth of Infinity War‘s Thursday night total. Yeah, I saw the movie last night with my wife and freakin’ LOVED it! In fact, I can’t wait to see it again!
AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR is in theaters now!