Saturday update:
It was big ... but not that big.
"Iron Man 2" debuted to $51 million at the domestic box office Friday, according to rival-studio estimates, putting the $200 million Marvel sequel on pace to finish its first weekend with just under $130 million.
Such a finish will secure solid profitability for the $200 million Paramount-distributed title, which has already grossed about $140 million abroad. However, it is well below pre-release tracking predictions that had the Jon Favreau-directed movie breaking "Dark Knight's" record $158.4 million start in 2008.
In fact, a number of box-office trackers had the film opening at above $160 million (although Paramount's own estimate was in the $140 million region).
Opening in a record 4,380 theaters, a $130 million start would still give "Iron Man 2" the fifth best domestic premiere in motion-picture history, trailing 2006 Disney hit "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest" ($135.6 million) at No. 4 on that list.
Finishing in second place Friday in its second weekend of release, Warner/New Line horror reboot "A Nightmare on Elm Street" cratered 79 percent to $3.3 million. It's on pace for a $9.5 million weekend, which would give the $27 million film about $49 million in domestic ticket sales after two weeks.
In third place, Fox's "Date Night" continued to hold strong after five weeks in theaters, dropping only 35 percent to $1.6 million. It's on pace to finish its fifth weekend with about $81 million in North American gross.
Likewise, at No. 4, DreamWorks Animation's "How to Train Your Dragon" dropped only 40 percent in its seventh week to $1.5 million. It's looking to surpass the $200 million mark in the U.S. and Canada this weekend.
At No. 5, CBS Films' "The Back-Up Plan" continues to churn its legs, too, grossing $1.4 million Friday. The $35 million J.Lo-fueled romantic comedy could break the $30 million mark by the end of the weekend.
Overall, the domestic box office is pacing about 16 percent ahead of the $148.5 million grossed on the same weekend last year, according to one studio's estimate.
Friday update:
If “Iron Man 2” is going to break “Dark Knight’s” all-time domestic premiere record of $158.4 million, it’s going to have to make up some ground.
Marvel’s “Iron Man” follow-up grossed $7.5 million at its midnight opening Friday morning, a fraction of the $18.5 million “Dark Knight” grossed at its opening midnight engagements in 2008.
In terms of 12 a.m. runs, however, “Dark Knight” had one key advantage, running in the middle of summer, when a large portion of its audience was out of school.
Opening at a record 4,380 theaters Friday, “Iron Man 2” is predicted by at least one tracking firm to gross $165 million this weekend.
Wednesday preview:
No pressure or anything ...
Premiering on a record 4,380 screens in the U.S. and Canada on Friday, starting with about 2,500 or so midnight shows, tracking suggests “Iron Man 2” will enjoy the biggest domestic opening of all time, grossing about $165 million in its first three days.
