Marvel scores another big box office win this year with ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ taking the top spot.
The movieopened to a MASSIVE $94.3 million over the weekend and obliterated the record for biggest August opening ever. The title was previously held by ‘The Bourne Ultimatum’ which earned $69.3 million back in 2007. It also was the third highest opening this year beating out ‘Godzilla’s $93 million in May but it fell just short of Marvel’s other film this year ‘Captain America: The Winter Soldier’ which opened to $95 million in April.
‘Guardians’ opening far exceeded studio expectations which had the film opening around the $65 million mark. The movie exceeded expectations overseas as well as it earned another $67.4 million internationally and was the top film in 42 markets. This brings its first week opening total to a whopping $161.7 million.
Scarlett Johansson’s sci-fi thriller ‘Lucy’ fell to the runner up position with $18.3 million and brought its domestic total to $79.6 million. The film becomes director Luc Besson’s highest grossing directorial effort of his career as it surpasses his 1997 cult classic ‘The Fifth Element’ which earned $63 million.
The James Brown biopic ‘Get on Up’ posted a $14 million haul during its opening weekend and a third place finish. The film cost $30 million to produce and should be able to earn that back in the coming weeks.
‘Hercules’ couldn’t keep up with the other movies and tumbled 63% in ticket sales and earned $10 million over the weekend. It earned another $14 million overseas and just passed the $100 million mark globally.
‘Dawn of the Planet of the Apes’ is still hanging out in the top five with $8.7 million and brings its domestic total to $189.3 million.
Michael Bay hopes to recreate his ‘Transformers’ success when his next movie ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’ takes on ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ for the top of the box office this week.
