This weekend Iron Man 3 opened overseas making an estimated $195 million.
The opening marked one of the best first weekends for a blockbuster worldwide. It also capsized last year's "The Avengers" which opened to an outstanding $185 million. The weekend's results already have box office analysts predicting "Iron Man" to play more like "The Avenger's" sequel.
As a result analysts estimate that the film could open north of $207 million next weekend when "Iron Man 3" hits theaters in the US. If so the film would become the biggest opening weekend of all time. However Disney president of distribution Dave Hollis does not expect to surpass "The Avengers." He said "To say we are beyond encouraged is an understatement."
The film has already broken record overseas. It scored the biggest opening weekend ever in Asia Pacific and Latin America, and in individual countries including Argentina, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Vietnam, Taiwan, Philippines, Malaysia and Singapore. It also scored the top Marvel opening in another raft of markets.
"Iron Man 3," starring Robert Downey Jr., Ben Kingsley, Guy Pearce, Don Cheadle and Gwyneth Paltrow, continues Tony Stark's story after his world is torn apart by a formidable terrorist called the Mandarin. When he loses everything, Stark starts an odyssey of rebuilding and retribution against his enemies.
The film premiered in London and has scored rave reviews. It currently has a 93 percent aggregate score on Rotten Tomatoes. The Hollywood Reporters stated, "Downey is at his superhero genius best here, rattling off dialogue both clever and boilerplate with non-repetitive aplomb."
Shane Black directed the film and reunites with Downey Jr. after their award winning collaboration on "Kiss Kiss Bang Bang"
"Iron Man 3" opens on May 3 in 4,000 theaters and is rated PG-13 for sequences of intense sci-fi action and violence throughout, and brief suggestive content.