"The Avengers" flexed its muscles overseas, opening at No. 1 in all 39 markets and rolling up $178 million a week ahead of its U.S. debut.
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Joss Whedon's superhero spectacular earned a whopping $24.7 million in the U.K., Disney's best three-day weekend ever there.
It also took in $19.7 million from Australia, a record $15.9 million from Mexico and another $12.9 million from Korea. In addition to Mexico, "The Avengers" opening was the biggest ever in Brazil, Argentina, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Malaysia, New Zealand and the Philippines.
The numbers are even more impressive for the Marvel-Disney collaboration, considering the film won't open in China and Russia until next week, when it opens in the U.S. It will play in Japan in August.
Another movie that is banking on a major foreign boost before launching in the U.S., Universal's "Battleship," continues to steam along. It took $22.5 million from 50 locales over the weekend, raising its overseas gross to $170 million, according to Rentrak. It opens on May 18 in the U.S.
"Titanic," meanwhile, rang up another $20.4 million from 71 territories, raising its foreign overall gross to $317 million.
Elsewhere, Sony's "Pirates! The Band of Misfits" opened to $1.1 million in Russia. It has grossed $63.6 million so far in 49 markets.