Update: April 30, 2018
AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR Shatters Box Office Record with $258.2 Million U.S. Weekend and $640.9 Million Worldwide Bow
Disney and Marvel's
Avengers: Infinity War kicked off the summer box office in high style over the weekend, opening to a record-setting $258.2 million in North America and $382.7 million overseas for a global total of $640.9 million, the top worldwide debut of all time, according to final numbers. The superhero mashup accomplished the feat without China, where it doesn't unfurl until May 11.
Final numbers released Monday were up from Sunday's estimates, which showed
Infinity War debuting to $250 million domestically and $630 million internationally.
Fellow Disney title
Star Wars: The Force Awakens ($248 million) was the previous record-holder for biggest domestic bow, while Universal's
The Fate of the Furious had held the record for biggest global start ($541.9 million).
Infinity War's box-office victory was aided by the
biggest Saturday of all time in North America ($83 million), as well as the biggest Sunday ($69 million), reflecting powerful word of mouth. The tentpole cost close to $300 million to produce before a major marketing spend.
Directed by the Russo brothers,
Avengers: Infinity War is the most ambitious amassing of superheroes ever on the big screen and comes as Marvel Studios — led by Kevin Feige — celebrates the tenth anniversary of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. In 2009, Walt Disney Co. chief Bob Iger paid $4 billion to acquire Marvel Entertainment, even though many of the superhero characters in Marvel's stable were unproven.
"Marvel spent 10 years methodically and carefully creating a universe of characters, worlds and stories that all led to this and, in doing so, created an event unlike anything the business has ever seen," said Disney distribution chief Dave Hollis as he prepares to exit the top post and turn his job over to studio veteran Cathleen Taff.
"We have been sitting here all weekend in astonishment," added Taff.
Infinity War is the first film to be shot entirely with Imax cameras. Imax theaters in turn delivered $41 million of the total worldwide gross, the biggest showing ever for a Marvel title. The U.S. share was $22.5 million.
Marvel Studios is unrivaled in its success, now boasting six of the top 10 opening weekends of all time.
The Avengers ($207.4 million) previously held the mark for the biggest superhero launch, followed by
Black Panther($202 million). They are the only other superhero titles to have crossed $200 million in their first weekend.
Infinity War also continues Disney's domination at the box office. The studio has bragging rights to nine of the 10 biggest domestic openings, including the top three;
Infinity War,
Force Awakens and
Star Wars: The Last Jedi($220 million). Universal's
Jurassic World ($208.8 million) is No. 4.
As in North America,
Infinity War set a
slew of industry records overseas, including staking out the second-best international opening all time.
Fate of the Furious still reigns as the top international opening with $443.2 million, thanks to a hefty $185 million day-and-day debut in China. Without China,
Fate of the Furious' international start would have been roughly $258 million.
Box Office Milestone: 'Avengers: Infinity War' Passes 'The Force Awakens' With Record $258M U.S. Bow