Pamela McClintock of THR:
Paramount and Skydance Productions' Star Trek Into Darkness didn't engage warp speed in its North American opening, posting a solid four-day debut of $84.1 million to top the chart.
Overseas, the J.J. Abrams-directed tentpole took in another $40 million over the weekend for an early global total of $164.6 million. The 3D pic, playing in 40 markets, tied with Iron Man 3, which took in $40.2 million in its fourth weekend.
But it was Baz Luhrmann's The Great Gatsby -- benefiting from being the only female-skewing event pic -- which topped the foreign box office, grossing $42.1 million as it opened in 49 markets following its international premiere at the Cannes Film Festival May 15.
There was plenty of action overseas all the way around. Universal's Fast & Furious 6 tore out of the gate as it opened in the U.K. and Ireland, grossing $13.8 million to score the biggest opening ever for a Universal title in those countries and boding well for the film's domestic debut over Memorial Day weekend and its continued rollout overseas.
Heading into the weekend, many box office observers believed Into Darkness had a shot at hitting $100 million in North America, easily outpacing the $79.2 million of Abrams' 2009 Star Trek, which reinvigorated the sci-fi film franchise.
Paramount vice chairman Rob Moore said he was "extremely pleased" with sequel's domestic performance, both domestically and internationally, where the studio waged a massive marketing campaign to improve the franchise's standing (Star Trek has never been as popular overseas).
"Into Darkness did 6 percent better than Star Trek [2009] and received an A CinemaScore, so we know people love the movie," Moore said. "And overseas, it is pacing 82 percent ahead of Abrams first film."
In Russia -- where sci-fi often suffers, but 3D is enormously popular -- Into Darkness debuted to $8 million, four times the opening of the 2009 reboot, which topped out at only $4 million.
Moore where he says Into Darkness could ultimately double the $127 million cumed by Star Trek internationally.
Into Darkness returns Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto in the roles of Captain James T. Kirk and Spock. Other returning castmembers include Zoe Saldana, Anton Yelchin, Simon Pegg, John Cho and Karl Urban. This time out, a scheming villain played by Benedict Cumberbatch resorts to terrorism to threaten Earth.
Paramount and Skydance co-financed the $190 million tentpole, and produced alongside Abrams' Bad Robot. The script was written by Roberto Orci, Alex Kurtzman and Damon Lindelof.
Below are the top 10 estimates for the May 17-19 weekend at the North American box office.
1. Star Trek Into Darkness, 1/3,868, Paramount/Skydance, $70.6 million, $84.1 million
2. Iron Man 3, 3/4,237, Disney/Marvel Studios, $20 million, $337.1 million
3. The Great Gatsby, 2/3,550, Warner Bros./Village Roadshow, $23.4 million, $90.2 million
4. Pain & Gain, 4/2,429, Paramount, $3.1 million, $88.7 million
5. 42, 6/2,380, Warners/Legendary, $2.7 million, $46.6 million
6. The Croods, 9/2,373, Fox/DreamWorks Animation, $2.8, $176.8 million
7. Tyler Perry Presents Peeples, 2/2,041, Lionsgate, $2.2 million, $7.9 million
8. Oblivion, 5/2,077, Universal, $2.16 million, $85.5 million
9. Mud, 4/960, Roadside Attractions, $2.15 million, $11.6 million
10. The Big Wedding, 4/1,442, Lionsgate, $1.1 million, $20.2 million\
Next Up: It's gonna be an Epic Summer showdown--The gang's all here as "Fast & Furious 6" puts the Pedal To The Medal-as Paul Walker, Vin Diesel and Dwayne Johnson take on rival gang leader Luke Evans; The Wolf Pack is back to wrap things up in The Hangover Part III
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