Sony's “The Amazing Spider-Man 2″ scores $92 million opening

PanARMENIAN.Net - While unable to match the debut power of fellow superhero marvels like the “Iron Man” franchise and “Captain America,” Sony’s “The Amazing Spider-Man 2″ still managed to continue the webslinger saga in high-flying fashion, with an estimated $92 million domestically, Variety said.

In just three weeks, the sequel has grossed $277 million internationally, including an additonal estimated $116 million this weekend, for a worldwide haul nearing $370 million.

Sony has a lot riding on “The Amazing Spider-Man 2″ — and the film didn’t disappoint even if it did fall short of similar Stateside summer openers, including “Iron Man 3,” which blew the doors off last season with its massive $174 million domestic start.

It’s become tradition for the May-August box office season to begin with the latest Marvel superhero pic, including two previous Spidey installments. (The first “Spider-Man” opened with $114 million in 2002; “Spider-Man 3″ grossed $151 million in 2007.)

The original, however, benefited from being the first of its kind from the comic-book brand, while the three-quel saw built-up audience energy as the finale in that “Spider-Man” trilogy.

All the same, this year, Disney and Marvel essentially kicked off summer-like moviegoing in early April, with “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” proving that franchise’s mettle with moviegoers, grossing $95 million opening weekend. The “Captain” sequel, which so far has collected a whopping $680 million globally, likely stole some of “Spider-Man’s” thunder; this weekend, “Winter Solder” grossed $7.8 million — down just 52% — even with “Spider-Man” entering the market.

Still, Sony anticipates the film will hold up well given its playability so far in overseas holdover markets.

“It’s just been stunning results across-the-board worldwide. We had only one day in China, and it’s been a huge one (estimated at $10.4 million),” said Sony worldwide distribution topper Rory Bruer. “It’s all going to add up nicely.”

Domestically, the sequel saw a notable uptick on the West Coast, Bruer said, especially with Hispanic auds. The film also drew a sizable 43% from 3D, of which 9.3% came from Imax (the circuit had 16 of the pic’s top 20 locations) and an additional 7% from other premium large-format locations.

In limited Stateside release, Fox Searchlight bowed its racially themed period drama “Belle” at four locations, where the film averaged a solid $26,123 per screen. Pic totaled an estimated $104,493 through Sunday, May 4. The distrib plans to add close to 11 new markets for the film this weekend.

Holding well this frame, Fox’s femme-targeted “The Other Woman” estimated $14.2 million in its sophomore outing, dropping only 43% for a projected Stateside cume of $47.3 million through Sunday.