Newsmakers

Newsmakers

‘Ultron’ stays at top, crushes ‘Hot Pursuit’

LOS ANGELES

The “Age of Ultron” is not over. The Avengers sequel topped the domestic box office for the second weekend in a row with an estimated $77.2 million according to Rentrak estimates Sunday.

The film has earned a staggering $312.9 million in just 10 days in theaters, tying with “The Dark Knight” to become the second-fastest film to do so.

While a wild success by any measure, the film is still lagging behind the record-setting precedent of 2012’s “The Avengers,” which made $103.1 million in its second weekend in theatres and had a domestic total of $373 million at the same point in the cycle.

“Avengers: Age of Ultron” also added $68.3 million internationally, bringing its worldwide total to $875.3 million. The Disney and Marvel sequel opens in China on Tuesday with midnight screenings. The midnight sellouts have prompted even Chinese IMAX screens to add 3 a.m. showings to their schedule.

“Hot Pursuit,” meanwhile, failed to make a significant mark in its debut weekend, earning a less-than-impressive $13.3 million. The Reese Witherspoon and Sofia Vergara buddy comedy, which cost a reported $35 million to produce, was projected to earn at least $18 million out of the gates.

“Critics were very tough on ‘Hot Pursuit,’” said Rentrak’s Senior Media Analyst Paul Dergarabedian. Considering the power of female audiences at the box office, and the frequency of female-driven films to over-perform, the lagging enthusiasm around “Hot Pursuit” is puzzling.

The Mother’s Day holiday might help catapult the “Hot Pursuit” to a stronger Sunday, Goldstein said.

Still, “Hot Pursuit” could surprise yet, especially when it reaches the small screen.

“Furious 7” and “Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2” rounded out the top five with $5.3 million and $5.2 million, respectively.

Ultimately, it’s still an “Avengers” world, at least until “Mad Max: Fury Road” and “Pitch Perfect 2” open next weekend.

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Rentrak. Where available, the latest international numbers for Friday through Sunday are also included. Final domestic figures will be released today.

1.“Avengers: Age of Ultron,” $77.2 million ($68.3 million international).

2.“Hot Pursuit,” $13.3 million ($1.4 million international).

3.“The Age of Adaline,” $5.6 million ($2.6 million international).

4.“Furious 7,” $5.3 million ($19.6 million international).

5.“Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2,” $5.2 million ($3 million international).

Associated Press