The summer blockbuster season got off to a phenomenal start as moviegoers flocked to Marvel Studios’ Iron Man. Released by Paramount Pictures, the comic-book adaptation raked in an estimated $100.7 million over the weekend, scoring the second biggest non-sequel debut in history. The first weekend of May has historically been good to superhero movies. Sony’s Spider-Man busted box office records when it debuted on May 3, 2003, only to be bested by Spider-Man 3‘s $151 million opening on May 4 of last year.
Counting Thursday night screenings, Iron Man has banked about $104 million domestically and more than $96 million overseas for a grand total in the ballpark of $201 million. The $140 million spectacle featuring visual effects by ILM and other top shops is quickly earning its money back and then some as a host of other big summer releases nip at its jet-powered heels. This weekend the film goes up against Speed Racer as Warner Bros.’ big-screen treatment of the classic anime series makes a bid for the box office cup.
While most studios opted to steer clear of Iron Man, Sony opened the romantic comedy Made of Honor hoping to attract an entirely different audience. The Patrick Dempsey vehicle earned approximately $15.5 million to debut in a distant second place. Last week’s top earner, Universal’s Baby Mama, dropped to third place with about $10.3 million, while the studio’s comedy Forgetting Sarah Marshall held tight at No. 4 with an estimated $6.1 million. New Line’s sequel Harold and Kumar: Escape From Guantanamo Bay rounds out the weekend’s top five with about $6 million.
