The Avengers

[KeithS]

Disney has a big hit on its hands with The Avengers.

On its opening DAY in the US (Friday) - it grossed an estimated $80.5 million dollars - that's $10 million more than John Carter grossed for its entire run in the US!

If you include the foreign takings so far reported, The Avengers has grossed $384 million. Not too bad! It'll be interesting to see what the final gross is for the US at the end of the weekend.

Remember, The Avengers is the first Marvel film that Disney put into production, paid for, and marketed (although it had been in gestation prior to Disney buying Marvel). And if you see it (or any of the advertising for it) - don't be confused by the Paramount logo at the start of the film - that is just a hangover of deals made between Marvel, Disney and Paramount after the Disney acquisition of Marvel - the next Marvel movie will have the Disney logo at the beginning.

[churros]

It looks good!

[mushu mama]

any of my friends that have seen it have RAVED about it... I haven't heard a bad report yet.

[KeithS]

Although it didn't have the biggest opening day ever in the US, it did get the biggest opening US weekend on record! Over $200 million!

And like Lisa says - the reviews are very good. Can't wait to see it!

[calisota]

Anything that had the name Joss Wheedon attached to it had to be good.

Greg

[mushu mama]

I had to google who Joss Weedon was ...

[calisota]

I had to google who Joss Weedon was ...

Greg

[churros]

I had to google who Joss Weedon was ...

Would you like to save me the trouble Lisa?

[mushu mama]

Thanks Beth...

a scriptwriter? ( I think)


Zach went to see this recently and even HE raved about it... ( being a non-comic, non super hero kind of guy) ... it must have a lot of explosions in it I'm guessing.

[KeithS]

Joss Whedon is the guy behind TV series such as Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Angel, Firefly (and the spin off movie Serenity).

He is a legend in the geek community for his story acumen and directing skills.

[churros]

Joss Whedon is the guy behind TV series such as Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Angel, Firefly (and the spin off movie Serenity).

He is a legend in the geek community for his story acumen and directing skills.

Well no wonder I don't know him, I haven't watched any of these shows. I'd rather a book!

[mushu mama]

ohhhh.... that explains it...

I know OF these series, but I haven't watched any either... I don't have time to watch as much TV as I'd like. I always wanted to see Firefly though.

I'm currently wading my way through season 3 of Gossip Girl....And then next in line is going to be Downton Abbey and then Game of Thrones ( once I've read the books).

[churros]

Bob Iger has announced Avengers based attractions in some the parks along with Avengers II. They don't muck around!

[KeithS]

Bob Iger has announced Avengers based attractions in some the parks along with Avengers II. They don't muck around!

They have $775 million reasons (so far!) to do a sequel and build rides

It'll be interesting what they do with the US parks. They can't build anything in Orlando as Universal has an exclusive themepark deal with Marvel to have the characters in the parks there.

Anaheim is a different story - there is no exclusive deal so Disney can do what they like. The problem Disney has is that the Marvel characters don't fit into either of the two Anaheim park's stories. DCA is all about the 1920's Los Angeles, and Disneyland is a mix of fantasy, future, wild west, cartoons, exotic adventures and history - there is no modern urban environment (like the New York Street area in Disney-Hollywood studio in Orlando which would be perfect for Marvel).

So Disney has some serious thinking to do to make everything fit nicely.

[KeithS]

They have $775 million reasons (so far!) to do a sequel and build rides

Four days later and it cracks the $1 billion mark...aye-carumba!