It’s said that the Oscars usually have higher ratings when there’s a clear front-runner, and a sense of inevitability with where the big awards go. It’s said that people like coronations, because you know what you’re getting. People just like to watch history unfold, I suppose, as opposed to enjoying something where anything could happen. That’s what the Marvel Comic Universe reminds me of at this point. It’s not that there’s no drama within the actual films – Avengers: Infinity War is a bonkers, high-death-count movie with huge plot stakes – but there was a sense of inevitability about the film being successful. Marvel knew that they had the Mother of All Superhero Films. They marketed it as such. They knew they were going to mint money off of this. And that’s exactly what happened:
Disney and Marvel’s Avengers: Infinity War kicked off the summer box office in high style over the weekend, opening to a record-setting $250 million in North America and $380 million overseas for a global total of $630 million, the top worldwide debut of all time. The superhero mashup accomplished the feat without China, where it doesn’t unfurl until May 11.
Fellow Disney title Star Wars: The Force Awakens ($248 million) was the previous record holder for biggest domestic bow, while Universal’s The Fate of the Furious had held the record for biggest global start ($541.9 million).
Infinity War’s box-office victory was aided by the biggest Saturday of all time in North America ($83 million), as well as the biggest Sunday (an estimated $61 million), reflecting powerful word of mouth. The tentpole cost close to $300 million to produce before a major marketing spend.
Directed by the Russo brothers, Avengers: Infinity War is the most ambitious amassing of superheroes ever on the big screen and comes as Marvel Studios — led by Kevin Feige — celebrates the tenth anniversary of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. In 2009, Walt Disney Co. chief Bob Iger paid $4 billion to acquire Marvel Entertainment, even though many of the superhero characters in Marvel’s stable were unproven.
“Marvel spent 10 years methodically and carefully creating a universe of characters, worlds and stories that all led to this and, in doing so, created an event unlike anything the business has ever seen,” said Disney distribution chief Dave Hollis as he prepares to exit the top post and turn his job over to studio veteran Cathleen Taff.
Basically, Avengers fatigue won’t be setting in any time soon. The people want this kind of massive spectacle. They want superheroes. They want IronMan and Loki and Captain America and Black Panther. And they’ll be coming back for more with the second film, which comes out a year from now (May 3, 2019). I’m sure Infinity War Part 2 will break THIS record.
Photos courtesy of WENN.
I’m still recovering
Seen it twice now. Recovery takes a while. So many questions.
You’re brave. I don’t know if I could put myself through that experience twice.
We saw it last night and I went in without reading anything about it beforehand. I’m still recovering, too.
Me too. Mind blown…..
Love, love, love this movie! I am going back to see it again. My friends binge watched all the previous Marvel movies just to get ready for this. I haven’t seen a theater this crowded with a line waiting outside for the next show in years. Just a great escape, thank you Marvel.
enjoyed every minute. great way to spend a Sunday afternoon
Well…my bladder is definitely still recovering (that was a long sit). 😏
It was cute, a lot of fun. The ending might have had more of an impact if I’d never read another genre book or seen another genre movie ever; but I definitely see how it could upset children a great deal.
The question of resolution will spike the box office of Avengers 4, so this record will likely only stand for a year. GENIUS marketing and business management.
Saw it Friday night and my daughter is still crying when I mention the movie. It was really good. I’ve never sat in a theater that was that quiet and engrossed.
Kaiser- saw your tweet this morning. I keep waiting for a photo evidence post….. Pictures or it didn’t happen ; )
Me too. So much pain, but so, so well done.
I immediately texted a friend who had already seen it and said “It’s like a pirate and an angel had a baby – HAHAHAHAHAHA!!! ”
“Just kidding, I’m dead inside now”.
24 hours later I still feel the same way. Hats of f to the Russos-I knew this was coming and it still packed a wallop.
Pirate angel.
I’m still exhausted. My teenager saw it twice. I just dont’ know what to think!
I loved it! I can’t wait to see Brie Larson as Captain Marvel in the next one (as indicated by the scene after the closing credits) lay down a much needed whoopin’
I’m amazed by this, because I’m so tired of The Avengers 🙈
I’m genuinely confused by the Marvel phenomena. I walked out of the first Avengers movie because it was so bad and I’ve never been able to finish another movie from them. Different strokes I guess but I’d be interested to see the demographics of these.
They were playing it on FX this weekend and I caught snippets of it and thought what am I missing? It was fine, the mishmash of characters was really odd to me but people really love it.
I’m not saying you should or shouldn’t like them, and if you don’t, that’s well and good and totally cool, but as to who the “demographics” are for these movies, well, Avengers Infinity War is the largest opening film OF ALL TIME and three other Marvel films are in the top 10 all-time, worldwide box office results. So, clearly, the demo for these movies is … basically everyone, in every country. That’s why they keep making them.
My 89 year old great aunt. Me. My boyfriend. Nieces and nephews ranging in age from 12 to 30. I saw it twice. Thursday night, the cinema had it running in 5 theaters, starting at 7 PM with the last showing starting at 11. There were lines throughout the building and almost every screening was sold out. The crowd seemed to be mostly college age with quite a few middle-aged groups. People were seeing it in groups of people. There were 6 in our group. The Thursday crowd also seemed to be heavily Asian but the theater is located on the edge of Boston’s Chinatown. Sunday afternoon’s screening had more kids and more middle-aged people, again totally sold out in a huge theater.
Me too. I like the idea of having such a big movie universe that ties into each other, thats really great. But not one of those movies really interests me lol.
Over Superhero movies period. Tired.of. them.
I’m a least so surprised by people commenting on articles to indicate how little they care. I don’t care about Carrie underwood, for example, so I don’t click and if I happen to click I don’t comment. the more clicks and comments an article gets, the more likely it is that more stories will be written on that topic, so you’re really just shooting yourself in the foot. Maybe you’re hoping to prove how smart or intellectual you are by disliking comic book movies?
Oh lord, spare me. 😑
Was asking as to the Marvel phenomena and the demographics for all the marvel movies, not just this one. Interesting that audiences are spanning age and race. That’s why I am interested in demographics, because i haven’t seen it advertised at all. Are they hyping it up on cable? It has to be on other platforms because for an opening that big, they’re reaching a lot of people who don’t have cable as well. Twitter? Facebook? Reddit? Do they bank on word of mouth? How is an 89 year old grandmother as hyped for this as my 14 year old brother and my 52 year old dad? That’s genuinely interesting to me. And how have they managed to keep people interested as this is the 20some odd movies? It really is a phenomena, and my liking or disliking of the movies don’t change that. Talking about demographics encompasses all of that.
@LP, getting defensive about someone else not liking a movie tells me a lot about you. I was responding to an OP and sharing the experience. We can like or dislike different things without there being deragatory meaning behind it. Yikes.
@BroodyTrudy, they advertise during sporting events and during primetime on major networks. They also cover all the entertainment news outlets and magazines. People may be interested in an individual character such as Ironman or Hulk and follow just that character’s films but get pulled into the group films because their character is in it too. There are interconnecting threads in each film so while each should stand on its own within that character’s arc, something in the story connects the character to the greater MCU world. And then there are people who just love movies, like my 89 year old aunt. Initially, she wasn’t into the MCU, she’s a DC girl. But she hated Henry Cavill’s casting as SuperMan and Man of Steel, well, she never got over it. I took her to a Captain America film around then and she switched allegiances. Captain America is her guy. We take her to opening night showings of the MCU because she really enjoys the excitement of the crowd, and loves seeing people turn out in costumes to watch a movie.
I agree about the first Avengers movie, it was terrible. No story and never ending fighting basically.
I saw it and thought it was terrible, lame dialogue, predictable plot, I mean I started calling plot points before they happened. I just don’t get it. I keep trying but I just don’t get it.
I think the reality is I am not the audience for this kind of superhero movie. I like interesting original films, this was not interesting. It felt like a giant bombastic cash grab.
I feel the same about Star Wars so yeah.. maybe I am going to take a superhero/space movie break for a while…
I love the Captain America movies, I loved Black Panther, I like Iron Man (the last two were meh but not horrible), I enjoyed Guardians and I tolerate Thor (Ragnarok was great though). I just never cared for the Avengers films. It was too much of a standard let’s find this McGuffin that the baddie wants kind of story (well I mean that’s all superhero movies really). The first one was ok because of Loki chewing the scenery, but I actually fell asleep during the last two. I was happy to hear that I’m not the only one who wasn’t into the Avengers movies. I haven’t seen Infinity War yet, I know all the spoilers, and I don’t know if I will end up seeing it in the movies or not. It sounds like it might be better at keeping my attention. I am anxious for Captain Marvel now, though!
I’ve managed to avoid spoilers until now, can’t wait to see it when i’m back in France! Hopefully the vostfr version…
Avoid spoilers!! Went in blind and…like everyone else, still in shock.
We will rent it when it hits redbox in a year. Ha! We quit going to the movies because it’s so expensive…and the chairs hurt my back, neck/head. The nice movie place is almost 2 hours away, nope, not happening. Haven’t been in years and don’t miss it at all.
I agree 98%, I have only gone to the movies for Keanu Reeves. He’s got a movie on the big screen? I get a sitter and away I go.
A 55″ TV and a comfy recliner at home, Netflix, Amazon and I’m set.
Our local 24 screen multiplex is a huge pain for me. Folks chattering away drives me nuts.
The rest of the family happily goes to the movies at will.
If folks enjoy these movies, more power to them. Life is so bitchy at times, anything that brings happiness to folks is find by me.
John Wick3 hurry up and take my money!
Moviepass is the way to go. All the movies you want to see, can’t see the same movie twice though, for $10 a month. Still cheaper than paying right out to see movies, if you need to buy more than one card per family. If you don’t buy concessions on your own, its cheap and fun to use. It now costs less money for me to see new movies now than rent movies at home.
I and my family have movie pass. Best thing ever.
And you can’t buy the same ticket twice, but that doesn’t mean you can’t see the same movie.
I typically go to really early or late showings, when there are plenty of empty seats left.
I go sit in the theater of the movie I want to see.
@hey there
Yes, these movies make tons of money, however I am wondering how many people see them more than once because in many countries cinema tickets are unaffordable.
Not one in my family in Italy or my husband’s family in UK ever saw two (or less) of these superhero movies; my mum only saw Iron Man and stopped there lol
I adore them (I also watch DC movies!), my husband got superhero fatigue instead.
There’s nothing wrong in saying some people don’t like them or they cannot go to the cinema. I totally disliked Titanic when it came out (and nearly walked out of the cinema!), same with Avatar. Different strokes for different folks I guess 🙂
P.S. I avoided all threads about IW as I still have to see it!
I’m still in shock. A part of me died whilst watching. I couldn’t watch it twice
@nene, I’m an old comic book geek so just remember that superheroes always come back. Nobody is really dead, ever.
However, I had a bet with a friend on who could die, and I was only half right. So good on the Russo Brothers for faking me out.
Yeah I already the plan for the next one. It’s not hard to figure out. Dr. Strange was a dead give away. And notice how they played homage to the original Avengers by not letting them turn to dust.
I explained it to my son who was upset and he was like ooooh. I also told him there will be another Black Panther and Spiderman film so you know they will be revived. In order for them to win, they had to lose.
I get that the time stone and soul stone will probably be used for a do-over but it was really hard to stomach.
The “Steve” line made me lose it 😭 and i really dont cry easy
I wish IW2 would come out already.
@h is there any prospect of pietro maximoff coming back? Im not over his death either
@nene, as a Stucky shipper, the “Steve” line killed me, especially since their reunion was lackluster.
No to Pietro coming back. I think because they’re using him in the X-Men Universe they’re not going to use him again in this one.
Agree. I can’t watch it again!
I never pay any attention to the opening weekend number. That’s an award for best marketing. Only the final number is interesting and means anything. The final number will be huge, how huge depends on front loading and whether people want a repeat viewing. For me I’ll be back for part 4 but once was fine for this one.
It was very good. A bit unwieldy. Some solid emotional punches and stakes….although all but three or four of the deaths will clearly be undone in the next part so that muted it a bit. I could see how a child might find it heavy though. Adult me found it an entertaining diversion for a few hours but nothing extraordinary. Above average.
Without spoiling anything – I’m thinking only 2 deaths really can’t be undone.
It was a decent movie but the humor is what made it worth seeing. So much good humor and banter!
@someone, I agree. Only two.
Assuming you both mean the first two, I agree, despite my love of both. But I wouldn’t be at all sad, or surprised, if the one we saw go twice stays gone, or returns for 2 and then goes for real; That actor has been with the franchise from the beginning.
And, of course, there almost certainly will be more real heroes lost, for good, in Part 2.
Honestly I’d be very disappointed if they undid any of those four deaths. They had impact and weight and gave the universe some gravitas for the first time, well, ever. It’s a shame if they cop out on that.
@Mia4Says I actually agree with that sentiment completely, but based on what I’ve read about upcoming sequel and how things went in the comic book series this is based on, I’d guess at least one character is almost certain to return to life, if not in Part 2, than when that sequel begins. Actually, if they don’t play a part in Part 2, I wouldn’t be surprised to see the next standalone sequel be a resurrection quest.
And another’s return also seems to be very broadly hinted at by costuming, according to those familiar with the comics.
No they will be. The stones have the power to reverse time. One of them comes from a continuous cycle to which they are reborn. I’m a comic junkie, I got you love. They will be back.
I’m not a parent–and not judging– but was surprised that there were a few small children at the showing I went to. One little boy a couple rows back was quiet for most of the movie but let out a few loud EEWWWS when Vision and Scarlet Witch were kissing. It was hysterical.
I have mixed feelings about the film but I’m not a huge Marvel geek so I’m not their primary demographic and probably missed some things. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed it and I’m glad that seemingly most hardcore Marvel fans were not disappointed. Without spoiling, my one major gripe is that one of the characters who died (and many agree this is one that probably won’t get reversed) didn’t get the ending that neither the character nor the actor who portrays him deserved.
I also just read that the person speaking at the beginning of the film was Kenneth Brannagh, which is a nice touch.
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What is Robert Downey doing with his hair? Did he have a wash and set at the Curl up and Dye? And those glasses? That’s a lotta look, RDJ. A lot of look.
I was just thinking, Hey! RDJ is looking attractive in that pic! He’s a movie star, dude. 🙂
TH is looking yummy with the long hair and beard too. Legs!
Laughing out loud! THANK YOU. Was clucking my tongue at this OTT ensemble the other day.
I’m an unapologetic lover of these movies! But I also want to see more rom coms and costume dramas and documentaries. I have layers!
Same. I actually really enjoy the Marvel movies, but I’m also someone who adores rom-coms, indie films, costume dramas…My taste runs the gamut. It’s not either/or.
We saw it. Meh. It was a half hour two long. They need tighter storytelling.
That said, some asshat my husband works with was trying to spoil the movie on freaking Friday! I was like, if you ruin a movie that I’ve literally been waiting 10 years to see, I will end you.
It was an event. It has been building for a decade. Whatever I thought about the movie, let people enjoy their thing.
Also, it was always going to be huge, but I wonder how much Wakanda helped the box office. I saw many more POC in the audience than I usually do. And the theater cheered when the action took us to Wakanda.
It satisfied the action movie lover and me…AND the cinemaphile in me!!!! And I’m gonna go on and say it…I would not be UPSET AT ALL…if Chris Hemsworth got a supporting actor Oscar nod…or heck, even Zoe…
They won’t but yes, they were both very good and had to cover quite a bit of range, especially CHemBoy, who had most of the funniest lines in the movie.
Same. Of all the performances Chris is the stand out in the movie.
He was awesome, but I also though Benedict Cumberbatch was good too, given his eccentric character.
Tom Holland’s final scene acting wise was on another level! I think he’s a great actor and a great Peter Parker!
Agree
What number is this in the series?
Avengers 3, 19th film in the MCU.
19? Ugh. I’ll never catch up.
Not all are directly related to the major plotline in this film. You’d miss some of the character development, but you could skip a handful of the films and still follow what is happening.
Right? The three Captain Americas, three Thors, Guardians One but not Two, Black Panther and the two Avenger films are really all that’s needed to get the story line because they touch on the infinity stones and put the characters in place for Avengers 3.
Their list is a on the minimal side for me, but Vulture was even more ruthless than that. Both Avengers, first Guardians, Doctor Strange and that’s it. http://www.vulture.com/2018/04/marvel-movies-to-watch-before-avengers-infinity-war.html
I’m still pondering my essential list, but agree with skipping Guardians 2. I love both Winter Soldier and Black Panther but I could make the case that Bucky and Wakanda are covered well enough in Civil War you’ll understand what’s going on without having seen the films. Even skipping all three Thors wouldn’t be so bad – I hadn’t seen Thor 1 before I saw Avengers 1 but I figured out what was going on with Thor and Loki, even if some of the brotherly angst went over my head at the time.
Yes, well, if they want me back in the seat next May, they’re going to have to get a Ouija board and a high quality medium and do some fancy resurrections.
No Ouija board needed, just the Time Stone.
Exactly, the Time Stone kinda makes everything less dire.
Not sure how much you know about the comic storyline but it can be undone using the stones
Elaborate, please. I would like to understand this.
The one thing this movie was missing? Hope. Give us a break, guys. Just a little light at the end of the tunnel to live on for a damn year.
The time stone can be used to restore things to a previous time, like the restore mode on a computer. It was used once in the Infinity Wars near the end. Some also argue that the “a soul for a soul” component of the Soul stone traps a soul but doesn’t necessarily take the life.
Some of them are coming back, if not all that disappeared (especially Spider man, BP, Strange..) but I’ve seen the casting notice for mourners, so expect more deaths.
I’ve been waiting for a superhero movie of this caliber. It reminds me of the comics in the way that there were so many of them. That was a real superhero movie. One of the biggest reasons why they only started out with a few was due to the audience not being able to keep up. So to finally see this was amazing.
My bet is Captain Marvel introduces Adam Warlock a bit and then we see him in Infinity Wars 2. There’s no other way Thanos can be stopped from my view at the moment.
It was a spectacle. I’ve seen it twice already and have tickets for a third viewing. It’s that good. Not just as a comic book movie but as a movie. Stakes were high, they juggled the moving parts really well and they had a villain that was worth the payoff.
I’m pretty sure we are getting the infinity gauntlet story next and if you know the background on that you’ll know that the end deaths will be reversed. The Russo brothers left who did on purpose…it will make the next battle a full circle before more end up dying for good. Ending phase 3.
Also I’m not sure when Hemsworth upped his game but Thor used to be my least favorite. Between Ragnorak and Infinity War he’s been killing it.
Hemsworth is comedy gold. He needs to do more comedies, he’s superb in that genre.
I can’t wait for MIB with Tessa
Speaking of whom, where was Valkyrie? THAT’s my biggest question.
Hemsworth conveyed so many emotions and balanced grief and comedy both. I was completely surprised by him. Personally I thought Thor’s storyline was the most compelling in IW.
Completely agree. I was blown away by the storyline and CH’s performance. Brilliant. And one of the biggest surprises of the film. The audience in both showings I was at lost their collective sh*t when he arrived in Wakanda. It was awesome.
Many of the characters will of course be ressurected. I’ve seen it twice now, and believe that includes one whom many, including myself, are mourning due to their rather abrupt and inconsistent with character “dispatch.”
There were too many clues not to expect a return.
I await May 2019 with bated breath.
Hemsworth was, for me too, the real star of this very crowded movie, and he got cheers in the theater we saw it in on at least two occasions, but his performance is made even more impressive when you realize he was interacting almost exclusively with CGI characters, as @lightpurple pointed out on another thread, so spent much of his time acting in front of giant screens all by himself or next to someone in a ping-pong ball-covered bodysuit.
Right? Most of his performance was by himself or talking to Sean Gunn dressed in the ping pong pajamas. He only had scenes with other people in the very beginning and the very end.
Hemsworth was the standout for me, too. I leaned over to my husband during one of his emotional scenes and said “Thor can act.” Great movie, can’t wait for next year.
Hot tip: Speaking as a mom of two with a dime sized bladder, pace yourself with your movie theatre quart of coke. Your bladder can’t hold for 2 hours and 40 min. Normally I guzzle and then sweat out the last 20 min of a movie trying to hold it in. Not this time.
Chris was truly amazing. When he, Rabbit (LOL) and Groot showed up for the battle, EVERYONE in the audience started clapping. That was my OMGYAAAAS GOD OF THUNDAAAAA moment and I loved it
Yep we did too and then the cheers got louder when he used his weapon.
Nicole, YUP!
It was nothing short of BADASS.
I’m seeing it tonight!!! Can’t wait.
WTH, guys! Let’s not spoil it for others!
It was really good. I’m not sure I can sit through it again. It was intense. If I do go, it’ll be to get fancy cinema with drinks.
Marvel really took it up a notch with this one. I was really impressed by how well-written it was. It could’ve felt bloated or confusing with so many characters, but I never felt lost. (Except lost emotionally, because that was an immense amount of pain.)
I didn’t read the comments for spoiler fears, but my youngest saw it yesterday and of course he loved it (no brainer). With three boys, I’ve lived in a superhero house for 25 years. As I type this I realize just how long and how deep this phenomenon is embedded. We’ve witnessed the rise of Marvel, and it really is on steroids now. I don’t love all the movies, but I still have to watch them ya know? It’s like growing up reading a special book but refusing to see all adaptations of said literature. I can’t do it lol. I have no idea how much money we’ve spent on Marvel merchandise through the years, and considering I gave birth to three superheroes and married one (you should really see his comic book collection…omg), it’s most definitely a cringe-worthy amount. I don’t want know.
Speculations for The next film:
The first two deaths will not be reversed, imo.
The second two will Because they were different circumstances.
The dusted will all return.
One or two of the original avengers will die. For good.
This film was good but a little rushed. Better than Civil War. But not as good as Black Panther.
I agree with you on these speculations. So much of the ending seems like it will be undone by time reversal.
The dialogue in the opening scene strongly suggests that the time stone is already in play (and there’s one interpretation of photos from Atlanta to support that theory). Don’t rule out the possibility that the sorcerer magicians are already working together and what we see isn’t all of what we get.
(I’m looking forward to the deleted scenes they filmed with Tessa — she was on the posters. Presumably she escapes with the survivors mentioned at another point in the film.)
I’d love an Extended Edition when it’s released on streaming.
I don’t know if this is a spoiler, but I found it a long a$$ trailer for the next movie. I got a little impatient at some points, but I didn’t hate it. I laughed at a lot of the jokes and if my son wants to go, I’d probably see it again.
In the end, that’s what it felt like to me too. Certainly not my favorite Marvel movie – maybe not even in the Top 5 for me, but it was enjoyable enough. I might see it one more time in the theater (at a bargain matinee), just to see if there was anything I missed.
I laughed at the end. Some people handle shock weirdly, I guess. But, the ending hit me later and I just…
Well, I hope to see it again this week.
I doubt this would have paid off so well if we weren’t so invested in each and every character. Hats off to Marvel for their unrelenting patience at Universe building.
The movie was brilliant. I laughed, i sobbed….I intend to see it again three more times.
To me going to the theaters is for this kinda of spectacle and sheer entertainment with a great audience that share the same experience.
More intimate movies are better watched on TV with friends with whom you can debate and reflect over afterwards.
I realize this makes me part of the problem in why the medium-budget movies I often really love, are no longer being made, but I kind of agree. We went to see the Big Sick at the theater, mostly just to support that kind of film-making, which I love, but really it plays even better in a more intimate, home setting where I can snuggle with my husband in our PJs and have a glass of wine while watching. (Helps that we have a pretty good home theater set-up.)
On the other hand, seeing a movie like Avengers Infinity War or Star Wars Force Awakens on an IMAX screen with an invested crowd who clap and gasp is an experience I definitely can’t get in my living room.
The two main problems facing intimate/smaller movies is firstly bigger and direct competition from TV streamline, TV and DVD.
And second : family’s own buget when chosing which type of movies to see at the theater when they are several other platforms to see them.
Movie experience at the theater is more and more expensive, so you will put the money on the bigger spectacle which offer an unparallel experience on the big screen.
And in that game, blockbusters have the biggest advantage cause they are for the most part 4 quadrant movies where you can bring partner and kids and the visual play a lot of part. Hence the current explosion of C.G.I input on those movies, which also is a big part of why they are more big blockbusters fantasy movies today than twenty years with new tecvhnology.
On the contrary you have so many more cheaper options for intimate/smaller movies which have been there for a century, are a dozens on TV and whose experience is much more similar than the one you can get at the theaters but cheaper.
That’s why, they tend to be less appealing to the masses for a theatrical experience versus the one of a blockbuster which evolves with technology and rides more of fantasy.