“Avengers: The Age of Ultron” began its international rollout Wednesday, and Disney is projecting the Marvel superhero sequel will take in between $160 million and $175 million by Sunday.
It is debuting in France and Italy on Wednesday, and in South Korea, the U.K., Brazil, Australia, Russia, Germany and Argentina on Thursday. By the weekend, it will be in 55 percent of the foreign markets where it will play.
It rolls out in North America on May 1, and is expected to challenge the opening weekend record of $207.3 million set by the original “Avengers” in 2012. That one opened to $185 million overseas, with 37 markets tracked.
“Age of Ultron” could well challenge the record for the biggest worldwide opening on that May 1 weekend. The first “Avengers” took in $392 million globally on its first weekend globally. That’s the third-best ever, behind two “Harry Potter” movies — “Half Blood Prince ($394 million) and “Deathly Hallows Part 2 ($483 million).