Film breaks records in Mexico, Brazil and other foreign markets a week ahead of its U.S. opening.
By Kevin P. Sullivan
Chris Evans as Captain America In "The Avengers"
Photo: Walt Disney Studios
The Avengers have already begun their world domination. Marvel's crossover movie opened in 39 foreign markets over the weekend, a week before its scheduled U.S. release, and the records have already started to shatter.
Premiering in only 70 percent of the total foreign territories, "The Avengers" has already earned $178.4 million. That total includes record-breaking opens in Mexico, Brazil, Taiwan, the Philippines, Hong Kong and seven other markets, according to Box Office Mojo. Australia's $19.7 million total was the second-highest opening in that country's history.
The $178.4 million total at the international box office ranks as only the ninth-highest foreign opening ever, but it should be taken into account that large markets like China and Russia won't get "The Avengers" until later this week, the same day it opens in the U.S.
Box Office Mojo predicted that "The Avengers" could end up with $600 million at the foreign box office alone, a figure "The Hunger Games" just passed with its global total.
Early tracking and box-office analysis have already predicted that when "The Avengers" does finally open Stateside, it will be enormous. Several experts have projected a possible domestic opening week of around or above $150 million. That opening would put the film well above the series' best debut, "Iron Man 2," which opened in the summer of 2010 to $128 million.
If "The Avengers" were to open above the $150 million mark, it would then be in contention for one of the highest U.S. opens of all time. The current champ, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2" opened to $169 million last year.
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