'Avengers: Age of Ultron' Dominates with $77 Million 2nd Week at Box Office

Marvel’s “The Avengers: Age of Ultron” again dominated the North American box office, retaining its No. 1 status and powering to $77.2 million, the second-largest second-weekend haul in history.

That left runner-up “Hot Pursuit,” the Reese Witherspoon-Sofia Vergara cop comedy that debuted with a soft $13.3 million, and the rest of the field in a different galaxy. But for the second consecutive week, Disney’s superhero sequel came up short of “The Avengers” in the record book, this time by plenty.

The 2012 original cruised to $103 million in its second weekend, after roaring to a best-ever $207.4 million opening weekend, so the encore performance by “Age of Ultron” — under the $85 million projections of Disney and most analysts — was a full 25 percent less than the original’s second-week outing. “The Avengers” fell off 50 percent from its first weekend in its second go-round, and the “Age of Ultron” total is 60 percent off from its debut.

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While it’s now clear that “Age of Ultron” won’t match “The Avengers” at the domestic box office — its total is $312.8 million compared to the first film’s $373 million two-week haul — it’s outpacing it with foreign audiences.

“Age of Ultron” brought in another $68 million from overseas this weekend, raising its international total to $562 million, roughly 20 percent ahead of “The Avengers” at a similar stage, and its global total to $875 million. Foreign returns now comprise roughly 70 percent of most blockbusters’ worldwide grosses, so that makes it probable the superhero sequel will eventually top the $1.5 billion that the original took in, especially since it opens in China on Tuesday.

That would make it No. 3 on the list of all-time top-grossing movies worldwide, behind only “Avatar” ($2.8 billion) and “Titanic” ($2.2 billion).

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MGM and Warner Bros.’ New Line had hoped for more from “Hot Pursuit,” particularly since it was Mother’s Day weekend and the PG-13 comedy directed by Anne Fletcher was aimed directly at women.

But bad reviews — it’s at a bleak six percent positive on Rotten Tomatoes — seem to have taken a toll. The audience, which was 62 percent female, was in tune with the critics and gave it a limp “C+” CinemaScore.

Lionsgate’s “The Age of Adaline,” Universal’s “Furious 7” and Sony’s “Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2” were all grouped next at a little over $5 million each.

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“Ex Machina, the R-rated sci-fi tale, expanded by 732 locations for its widest run yet and brought in $3.4 million from 2,004 theaters for sixth place. It’s up to $15.7 million after five weeks domestically for A24.

DreamWorks Animation’s “Home” ($3 million), the Weinstein Company’s “The Woman in Gold” ($1.6 million), Disney’s “Cinderella” ($1.5) and Universal’s teen horror tale “Unfriended” ($1.4 million) round out the top ten.

The overall box office was a little under the comparable frame last year, when “Neighbors” debuted with $49 million for Universal. For the year, though, 2015 is running more than 6 percent ahead of last year.

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"Howard the Duck" (1986) - In this Marvel-meets-George-Lucas sci-fi comedy, a human-size duck is propelled to Earth from outer space as the result of a scientific mishap. Emphasis was placed on special effects and portraying Howard as a less cynical duck than that in the comic.
Universal Pictures
"The Punisher" (1989) - Dolph Lundgren donned a signature skull shirt for a violent adaptation of the story of vigilante Frank Castle, a.k.a The Punisher
New World Pictures
"Fantastic Four" (1994) - Legend has it that Roger Corman produced this low-budget adaptation so that a producer could retain the film rights to the comic. Though never released theatrically, it is available on YouTube.
New Horizons
"Generation X" (1996) - Hoping to capitalize on the popular “X-Men” animated series of the '90s, “Generation X” was a TV movie that aired on Fox about a school for the gifted run by Emma Frost and Banshee.
Fox Network
"Nick Fury: Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D." (1998) - David Hasselhoff donned Nick Fury’s eye-patch long before Sam Jackson in this made-for-TV-movie that premiered on Fox.
Fury Productions/Fox Network
"Blade" (1998) - Wesley Snipes headlined as a half-man, half-vampire fighting against an evil bloodsucker intent on taking over the world
Marvel/New Line Cinema
"X-Men" (2000) - Hugh Jackman achieved international fame as Wolverine in the story of the famed Marvel superhero team
Marvel/Twentieth Century Fox
"Hulk" (2003) - Ang Lee's much maligned story of Bruce Banner (Eric Bana) as he struggles to control the raging monster within himself
Marvel/Universal Pictures
"Daredevil" (2003) - Ben Affleck earned plenty of scorn for his portrayal of the blind defender of Hell's Kitchen. Nevertheless, the film earned almost $180 million globally
Marvel/New Regency
"The Punisher" (2004) - Thomas Jane took over as Frank Castle in this ultra-violent vigilante tale that also starred John Travolta
Marvel/Lionsgate
"Elektra" (2005) - Jennifer Garner reprises her role as Elektra Natchios, an international assassin, in the spin-off from the more successful 2003 film, Daredevil.
Twentieth Century Fox
"Man-Thing" (2005) - Marvel tried its hand at horror with the “Man-Thing,” loosely based on Stan Lee's swamp monster comic from '71. It features a swamp-monster whose touch burns people who feel fear.
Lions Gate/Artisan Entertainment
"Ghost Rider" (2007) - Nicolas Cage and Eva Mendes starred in the story of a motorcycle daredevil (Cage) who sold his soul to the devil.
Marvel/Columbia Pictures
"Iron Man" (2008) - The movie that launched the MCU into the stratosphere starred Robert Downey Jr. as billionaire Tony Stark, a weapons manufacturerer who decides to defend the innocent who are caught in the path of the very weapons he once designed
Marvel/Paramount
"The Incredible Hulk" (2008) - Edward Norton took over the role of Dr. Bruce Banner in the setup to the eventual "Avengers" crossover
Marvel/Universal
"Captain America" (2011) - Chris Evans took up the red, white, and blue shield of the First Avenger as he fought against Hydra head Red Skull (Hugo Weaving)
Marvel/Paramount
"Thor" (2011) - Chris Hemsworth played the hammer-wielding god of thunder as he battles his brother, Loki (Tom Hiddleston), for control of the mythical realm of Asgard
Marvel/Paramount
"The Avengers" (2012) - The superhero team assembled for this blockbuster as they fought to prevent an alien invasion of Earth. Mark Ruffalo took over the role of Bruce Banner from Edward Norton
Marvel/Paramount
"Guardians of the Galaxy" (2014) - Chris Pratt proved himself to be an action superstar as Peter "Star-Lord" Quill in this intergalactic sensation that grossed almost $775 million
Marvel Studios
"Avengers: Age of Ultron" (2015) - The Avengers assemble once again as they try to stop Ultron, an A.I. built by Tony Stark that wants to destroy humanity
Marvel Studios
"Ant-Man" (2015) Paul Rudd plays a thief just out of prison who stumbles on a suit that shrinks him to microscopic size -- all the better to prevent Corey Stoll's evil executive from using the same technology for warfare.
Marvel Studios