Marvel's THE AVENGERS to Cross $600 Million Domestically Today

Marvel’s The Avengers is expected to cross the $600 million domestic box office threshold today, becoming one of only three films in history ever to reach this milestone. The Super Hero film’s global total is now an estimated $1,438.3 million, and it stands as the #3 film of all time globally and domestically.

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Based on the ever-popular Marvel comic book series, first published in 1963, Marvel’s The Avengers brings together the mightiest super hero characters as they all assemble together on screen for the first time. Continuing the epic big-screen adventures started in Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Iron Man 2, Thor, and Captain America: The First Avenger, Marvel’s The Avengers is the super hero team up of a lifetime. When an unexpected enemy emerges that threatens global safety and security, Nick Fury, director of the international peacekeeping agency known as S.H.I.E.L.D., finds himself in need of a team to pull the world back from the brink of disaster.

Marvel’s The Avengers opened in North America May 4 with a staggering $207.4 million – the biggest domestic debut of all time – and has been shattering domestic box office records ever since including the industry’s all-time second weekend record with $103 million; fastest film to reach $200 million (3 days), $300 million (9 days), $400 million (14 days), and $500 million (23 days); and highest Saturday ($69.5 million) and Sunday ($57 million) totals. It is the #4 film of all time internationally with $838.9 million.

Among only 12 films that have grossed $1 billion at the global box office, Marvel’s The Avengers is one of five billion-dollar Disney releases, which also include Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest, Alice in Wonderland, Disney•Pixar’s Toy Story 3, and Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides.

The Avengers stars Robert Downey, Jr. (Iron Man, Iron Man 2), Chris Hemsworth (Thor), Chris Evans (Captain America: The First Avenger), Jeremy Renner (The Hurt Locker), Mark Ruffalo (The Kids Are Alright), Scarlett Johansson (Iron Man 2), Clark Gregg (Iron Man, Thor), Samuel L. Jackson (Iron Man, Iron Man 2), Cobie Smulders (How I Met Your Mother), Tom Hiddleston (Thor) and Stellan Skarsgård (Angels & Demons, Mamma Mia!) and has set several domestic box office records including the industry’s all-time second weekend record with an estimated $103.2 million, fastest film to reach $200 million (3 days), fastest to $300 million (in a record 9 days), and highest Saturday ($69.5 million) and Sunday ($57 million) totals. In addition, its opening day of $80.8 million is the second-highest single-day gross of all time. Moviegoers gave Marvel’s The Avengers a rare A+ CinemaScore.

On May 8, Disney announced that a sequel to Marvel’s The Avengers was in development, following an announcement that a follow-up to 2011’s Captain America: The First Avenger will be released April 4, 2014. A sequel to last summer’s Thor is scheduled for release November 15, 2013, and the third installment of the hit Iron Man series, which has earned over $1.2 billion worldwide, will arrive in theaters May 3, 2013.