Carl DiOrio of THR
Marvel Studios' summer-launching comics actioner "Iron Man 2" handily outpaced its franchise predecessor but without industry records, opening atop domestic rankings with an estimated $133.6 million in weekend boxoffice.
The first "Iron Man" pic -- also starring Robert Downey Jr., who enjoyed a personal-best bow with the sequel -- debuted with $98.6 million in May 2008.
Some had suggested that broad pre-release buzz could translate into a record opening by "Iron Man 2," but the $158.4 million first-frame performance of "The Dark Knight" in July 2008 remains secure in the record books.
Distributed by Paramount, "Iron Man 2" marked the fifth biggest bow ever and Paramount's best to date.
Heated expectations for the opening gave us knots in our subject, a relieved Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige conceded Sunday.
"But what untied those knots was watching the film with a paying audience," Feige added. "It really was an indication to us that they're still with us for this ride."
A franchise three-quel is expected to hit multiplexes sometime in 2013.
"We do have a contract with Robert Downey Jr. to do it, and it will come after 'The Avengers,' " Feige confirmed.
Paramount is set to unspool "Avengers" -- an ensemble superhero actioner featuring "Iron Man" and other Marvel characters -- on May 4, 2012.
Elsewhere this weekend, Warner Bros.' remake of horror pic "A Nightmare on Elm Street" finished in second place in its sophomore session with $9.2 million, despite falling a big 72% from its opening tally for $48.5 million in cumulative coin. DreamWorks Animation's leggy 3D adventure "How to Train Your Dragon" was third with $6.8 million from its seventh frame and cume totaling $201.1 million.
Summit Entertainment's Brendan Fraser comedy "Furry Vengeance" dipped 40% from its week-earlier bow to fetch $4 million in sixth place, with a 10-day cume of $11.6 million. And in a near-wide release, Focus Features unspooled "Babies" -- a documentary about the first year in four babies' lives -- in 593 locations and grossed $1.6 million in 10th place.
That represented an average $2,951 per site and a satisfactory result for a documentary bowing so broadly...
EW
'Iron Man 2' soars with $133.6 million weekend; scores fifth highest opening ever...
Josh Rottenberg wonders how many of you who saw the blockbuster wished it had an extra dimension..
I have plans to see IM 2 in a few days and my review will post shortly after.
Next Up: Russell Crowe is Robin Hood; Queen Latifah feels Just Wright; And Amanda Seyfried reads some Letters To Juliet
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