[Update] IRON MAN BOX-OFFICE NIPPING AT SPIDEY's HEELS

**MichaelDoran** · 05-03-2008, 02:35 PM

Want numbers? How about the 10th best opening weekend ever, and second best opening for a non-sequel ever, coming in behind Spider-Man in 2002? (all this per Variety.

Currently, Iron Man's opening domestic box office is checking in at $104.2 million (sure to be revised upward later today), with a world-wide cumulative box office take standing at $201 million in its first five days. The well reviewed and now, well-received film is a clear victory for Marvel Studios - Iron Man is the first film that was fully produced and financed by the studio, which was launched by Marvel in order to retain more of the profits of its theatrical ventures, as well as maintain a greater control on the story and presentation of their characters.

The opening weekend take surprised many pundits in Hollywood who, while predicting a strong opening, were mostly sticking to under $100 million for the weekend. Heck, even in our poll the majority were predicting an opening between $50 and $100 million.

According to Empire magazine, Marvel Studios is already eying the same weekend in 2010 for Iron Man 2, and reportedly, all three lead actors have signed on for three films. Expect more official word of a sequel soon.

May 3rd: The first early estimates for Iron Man Friday North America box office are starting to come in, and according to the tracking website BoxOfficeGuru.com, the film took in an estimated $33 million dollars in its opening frame ($38.5m when you add in the Thursday evening tally) seemingly putting it on pace to meet or even exceed some of more optimistic full weekend estimates.

The opening gives Iron Man the second largest first-day debut for a non-sequel in box office history, trailing only the $39.4m the original Spider-Man took in, although that of course was in 2002 ticket price dollars.

Iron Man could score $85-90M over the full weekend and $90-95M when adding in Thursday's grosses, according to BoxOfficeGuru.com.

The rub for superhero and genre movies is always its legs, however, or how is performs in the coming weeks after the core fan-base sees it opening weekend. With very favorable critical response and strong fan word-of-mouth, Iron Man may be poised to perform relatively strongly for a comic book based film, although it will be facing stiff competition with Speed Racer and the latest Indiana Jones installment both bowing this month as well.

Look updates with more details on Iron Man's performance later today and throughout the weekend.

Predabot1 · 05-03-2008, 03:01 PM

Oh boy, lookin' good, lookin' good.

That there Indiana Jones is somewhat worrying tho... Love both franchises so naturally I feel bad about them competing for this one.

EDIT: HEY! Anybody notice that someone OTHER than Matt Brady is actually news-caster and thread-starter?? 0_0

Sims · 05-03-2008, 03:01 PM

Awesome news! So glad to hear a hero not named Superman, Spider-Man or Batman can take a huge box office win!

drastic_q · 05-03-2008, 03:02 PM

Does anyone know if the cast signed on for sequels?

Vigor · 05-03-2008, 03:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drastic_q

Does anyone know if the cast signed on for sequels?

They are all signed on for three films.

Chuck Fiala · 05-03-2008, 03:11 PM

That's very good news. I had high hopes for the film, and another strong Marvel series only helps to give comics a furthur boost in the eyes of the general public. I hope this brings in more readers.

AbacusComics · 05-03-2008, 03:18 PM

That's awesome news. Definitely one of the best superhero movies ever!!!

My kid saw it twice yesterday. lol. Don't forget to stay for the end after the credits!

samnoir · 05-03-2008, 03:19 PM

Wow! Welcome to the A-list Shellhead!

Now the question is, will they proceed with Iron Man 2 first or will the follow up with an Avengers movie?

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HNutz · 05-03-2008, 03:29 PM

Wow! Now THAT's a good sign!

Wonder how Hulk will compare?

spidey 85 · 05-03-2008, 03:46 PM

Great news im happy this movie doing so well.

Peter Price · 05-03-2008, 03:57 PM

I don't worry about the competition, The first Spider-Man film went up against Star Wars Episode II & the Scorpion King. All of which opened in May 2002 & Spidey still went on to become a franchise. I don't doubt we'll be seeing Iron sequels.

K-DoG7p7 · 05-03-2008, 04:12 PM

YES!!! i'm winning a bet! :P

OM · 05-03-2008, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Predabot1

HEY! Anybody notice that someone OTHER than Matt Brady is actually news-caster and thread-starter?? 0_0

...Yeah, who is this "Michael Doran" twit, anyway?

Ken B. · 05-03-2008, 04:18 PM

I predict all the money Iron Man makes will be offset by the Hulk disappointing yet again. I have yet to hear positive buzz about it from friends and even listening to people's reactions in the theaters with the trailer (I distinctly heard a "not again" when the trailer ran last night).

finn5fel · 05-03-2008, 04:20 PM

"the second largest first-day debut for a non-sequel in box office history"

What an amazing record. A truly remarkable accomplishment.

HartyPotter · 05-03-2008, 04:24 PM

Sweeeeeet. Good numbers for a great movie.

von Doom, M.D. · 05-03-2008, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sims

Awesome news! So glad to hear a hero not named Superman, Spider-Man or Batman can take a huge box office win!

Or the X-Men, Hulk, Daredevil, or Fantastic Four...

Well, Hulk didn't win, but he did do well his opening weekend.

Anyway, it was a really good movie, but Tony's not facing just Indy and Speed Racer. There's also the next Narnia movie, as well as the Sex and the City movie at the end of the month. I know that I'm not going to see Iron Man as many times as I'd like to because I've got all those, plus Hulk, The Happening, X-Files 2, Hellboy, The Dark Knight, and Tropic Thunder to see before the end of July, so I'm saving a bit of money to see them all. It's a crowded summer, but it's good to see it starting off well.

Braeey · 05-03-2008, 04:36 PM

Saw it this morning, freaking great movie. Im thinking that with the recent trend of well written stories, good actors and fine directors is moving 'good superhero movies' to the title of "good movies"

Squeege63 · 05-03-2008, 04:38 PM

So I've never understood why companies are so hyped up about how much actual money is brought in for a movie, since as this article states, the cost of a movie ticket is significantly more expensive than it was in 2002, when Spider-Man came. So in essence, these records and such are bunk because you aren't looking at the same data. They should really count it by number of tickets sold, since that is a constant number that isn't skewed by price increase. Not that I'm not happy that Iron Man brought in a ton of money, I'm just saying that it is skewed and technically inaccurate to call it the second biggest opening history when you are basically comparing apples to oranges (ticket prices circa 2002 vs 2008)

GenerallZodd · 05-03-2008, 04:40 PM

The movie totally deserves this.

Squeege63 · 05-03-2008, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by von Doom, M.D.

Or the X-Men, Hulk, Daredevil, or Fantastic Four...

Well, Hulk didn't win, but he did do well his opening weekend.

Anyway, it was a really good movie, but Tony's not facing just Indy and Speed Racer. There's also the next Narnia movie, as well as the Sex and the City movie at the end of the month. I know that I'm not going to see Iron Man as many times as I'd like to because I've got all those, plus Hulk, The Happening, X-Files 2, Hellboy, The Dark Knight, and Tropic Thunder to see before the end of July, so I'm saving a bit of money to see them all. It's a crowded summer, but it's good to see it starting off well.

Yo uare going to go see Sex and the city - HA!

drizpiece · 05-03-2008, 05:00 PM

us comic nerds make the world go round'

shadowchaser · 05-03-2008, 05:24 PM

thats awesome to hear, the movie was fantastic, i can't wait to see it again next week

it has been a long time that a movie makes me want to go back and see it again in the theater

i really hope the hulk does well, it also has a great cast...i hope they don't rush on the sequel to iron man and think it out clearly as they did with this one.

if it was me, i would just have iron man come out first then the hulk, then a thor movie, then a captain america movie, have sam jackson appear in all them as nick fury...then have the avengers movie as a sequel to all of them

Clem · 05-03-2008, 05:31 PM

Congrats to Favs and RDJr, if anyone should succeed, it's them.

I haven't seen the film yet, but hopefully sometime next week.

Candid Rook · 05-03-2008, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shadowchaser

if it was me, i would just have iron man come out first then the hulk, then a thor movie, then a captain america movie, have sam jackson appear in all them as nick fury...then have the avengers movie as a sequel to all of them

Thats probably what they will do but you are also forgetting the Ant Man movie. Edgar Wright is directing that so I have high hopes for it. I wonder if Wasp will be in it as well?