‘Iron Man 2’ Sets Record at US Box Office

Critics were quick to say that “Iron Man 2” tried in vain to rise to expectations and preceding hype – and the legacy set by the first film in the franchise. As is often the case, fans would beg to differ and figures from the US box office, where the film opened this Friday, can confirm: “Iron Man 2” is a blockbuster, setting a new record for Paramount Pictures, USA Today says.

The film opened in select theaters around the world the other week, and had already made over $100 million by the time it arrived on screens in US theaters, which prompted some industry insiders to venture an estimate about its odds of becoming this year’s best-selling film. Judging by the $133.6 million it made in the US over the opening weekend, literally becoming Paramount’s biggest opening over the 3-day weekend, it’s safe to say that “Iron Man 2” is off to a smashing start in the race for box office supremacy.

“Iron Man 2 proved its mettle over the weekend, kicking off the summer movie season by opening with an estimated $133.6 million. The splashy sequel to the 2008 hit comic-book adaptation marked Paramount’s biggest three-day opening and the fifth-biggest opening weekend of all time, surpassing 2007’s Shrek the Third. ‘It’s a tremendous opening for a regular weekend,’ when kids are still in school, says Don Harris, Paramount’s executive vice president of distribution. He notes that Iron Man 2 opened 35% higher than the original, a rare feat for a sequel. Iron Man earned $98.6 million in its first weekend,” USA Today writes.

And that’s not all in terms of accomplishments over the weekend. “Iron Man 2 also set a 2-D record for IMAX, with $10.2 million coming from the large-screen format, surpassing Star Trek’s $8.5 million. ‘It just shows that whether 2-D or 3-D, people are seeking out the IMAX experience,’ says Greg Foster, IMAX’s chairman and president. Though Iron Man 2’s No. 1 opening was to be expected, one surprise is the number of female fans (40%),” the same publication adds.

One explanation for the large number of female fans is to be found in “the Robert Downey Jr.” factor, it is further being said. Based on the numbers registered so far and the balanced audience (male and female), Paramount is hopeful that “Iron Man 2” will continue to be popular for the weeks to come as well.