As expected, it was Avengers: Age of Ultron that held the top spot. But, it didn't hold on as well as its predecessor in its first weekend, falling 59% to $77.7 million, for a per-venue average of a still very-potent $18,200. In comparison, The Avengers was off 50% in its second weekend to $103 million. Through its 10th day, the sequel has amassed $313.4 million, tying The Dark Knight for the second-fastest movie ever to reach the triple-century mark (10 days). Unfortunately, that 10-day total is $60 million behind the first movie through the same point ($373 million for the first movie in 10 days). And it looks like, based on competition in the coming weeks, that that gap will only continue to grow. In comparison to other Marvel movies, Age of Ultron fell in line with Iron Man 3's 58% second weekend drop, and was slightly stronger than Captain America: The First Avenger, X-Men: Days of Future Past and The Amazing Spider-Man 2's 60-65% second weekend drops. However, it was a little steeper than Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Thor: The Dark World and Guardians of the Galaxy's second weekend holds of 55-57%.For second weekends, Age of Ultron edged out Avatar's $75.6 million second weekend to have the second-biggest second weekend ever, behind its predecessor. Overseas the movie continues to shine, where it earned an additional $68 million from most of the international marketplace. Age of Ultron currently is at $875 million worldwide, and has yet to open in massive markets China and Japan. Dependent on how it fares in those markets (and how much more it earns stateside), the sequel is well-positioned to come close, match, or surpass its predecessor's $1.52 billion worldwide gross.
Age of Ultron accounted for 59% of the weekend's overall business, down from the insane 85% of last weekend's percentage share.
Also as expected, cop comedy Hot Pursuit debuted in a very distant second place, but it failed to bring in a large audience. The Reese Witherspoon and Sofia Vergara flick managed just $13.9 million, for a per-venue average of a mild $4,643. That was below expectations, which had pegged a debut in the $18-20 million range. The marketing was solid for the film, but it may have opened on the wrong weekend (many females chose to wait for Pitch Perfect 2 instead, which is tracking for a huge debut next weekend). An August release may have been more suitable. Also not helping was that the film received horrid reviews (6% on Rotten Tomatoes), guaranteeing it a strong contender at next year's Razzies. That and just a "C+" CinemaScore (and added competition next week) will, overall, make Hot Pursuit not stick around town for long. Distributor Warner Bros., who has an insane 9 movies out this summer, produced the flick for $35 million.
The rest of the Top 10 consisted of Spring leftovers. After the massive opening weekend of Avengers: Age of Ultron, audiences caught up with what else was in theaters, and pretty much all of them benefited from Mother's Day. Holding the third spot for a third-straight weekend (last weekend it ended up falling to third in actuals), The Age of Adaline was off just a scant 6% to $5.8 million, for a solid $31.8 million pick-up in 17 days. As long as it doesn't falter in the face of Pitch Perfect 2 next week, the Blake Lively romance could go as high as $45 million.
Furious 7 had its strongest hold yet, off just 19% to $5.4 million, for a spectacular $338.6 million gross in 42 days, with the $350 million mark back in play. Furious 7 has played in 3,000 locations or more for six-straight weeks. Overseas, the penultimate entry in the blockbuster franchise is about to wrap its run in China thanks to a massive $388 million pick-up there, the biggest gross ever in the rapidly-expanding country. Worldwide, the film is at $1.47 billion thanks to $20 million picked up internationally. It needs $55 million more in order to pass the first Avengers.
Families caught up with Paul Blart - Mall Cop 2, which was off just 10% to $5.3 million, for a very solid $58.2 million gross in 24 days. Kevin James' latest could end up above $70 million. That's about half of the first Paul Blart, but its no stinker either. Expanding to just over 2,000 locations, Ex Machina rebounded after dropping hard last weekend. The critically-acclaimed sci-fi flick was up 54% to $3.5 million, and is distributor A24's biggest-grossing film to date, at $15.8 million in one month since its limited release. Machina could remain in this list for a few more weeks if word-of-mouth catches up.
DreamWorks Animation's Home recovered after a heavy decline last week, off 12% to $3.1 million, for a very solid $162.2 million in 49 days. With no animated competition the rest of the month, the alien invasion flick could reach $175 million. Woman in Gold actually increased from last weekend despite losing more theaters, up 8% to $1.7 million, for a solid $27 million in 42 days. Disney's Cinderella remake had one of the heavier declines of the list (due to not being in double-features with Avengers anymore). But it was off a still decent 39% to $1.68 million, for a very solid $196.3 million pick-up in nine weeks of release (8 of them in the Top 10). Cinderella will probably end up ahead of the $200 million mark after all.
Rounding out the Top 10 in its fourth weekend was Unfriended, which stabilized, and was off 34% to $1.5 million. The small-budget horror flick is at a decent $31 million in 24 days, with not much more to go.
Next weekend, Pitch Perfect 2 and Mad Max: Fury Road arrive to try to unseat Avengers, and might be successful? We shall see.
Review for Age of Ultron to be up by the end of tonight.
