Iron Man 2, the sequel to the hit 2008 superhero movie starring Robert Downey Jr, earned $133.6 million during its first three days of release in North America, distributor Paramount Pictures said today.
The figure meets pundits' forecasts but fails to break industry records.
Some rival studios had thought the Marvel Studios film could break the $158 million opening record set by The Dark Knight in 2008.
After opening internationally last weekend to maximise exposure before soccer's World Cup next month, Iron Man 2 has racked up $194 million overseas.
Paramount said the total is running about 25 per cent ahead of the first film when measured in local-currency terms. Japan is the only major market where Iron Man 2 is not yet playing and it will open there in three weeks.
The film, which reunites Downey with director Jon Favreau, cost about between $170 million and $180 million to make. Downey plays Tony Stark, a playboy weapons mogul who moonlights as an airborne superhero. Mickey Rourke and Scarlett Johansson joined the cast of the new film.
While critics were virtually unanimous in their approval of the first film, they were slightly less enthralled by the sequel.
It is the first big Marvel superhero film to open since Walt Disney’s $4 billion purchase of the comic-book studio last year. Paramount, a unit of Viacom Inc, is releasing the film worldwide for a distribution fee.
The first Iron Man film made $98.6 million in US and Canadian theatres during its opening weekend in 2008 and took a total of $585 million at worldwide box offices.
Reuters