Marvel's 'Ant-Man' Opens With $6.4 Million at Thursday Night Box Office

“Ant-Man” proved that size doesn’t matter as it grossed $6.4 million at the box office at the Thursday night previews, pushing it toward a predicted $65 million opening weekend in 3,856 theaters.

If the Disney/Marvel superhero film holds off a strong second weekend for Universal/Illumination Entertainment’s animated hit “Minions,” “Ant-Man” will become the 12th consecutive Marvel movie to open at No. 1 since “Iron Man” began the streak in 2008.

Comparably, “Thor: The Dark World,” opened at $7.1 million in previews in 2013, and Universal/Illumination Entertainment’s “Minions” opened with $6.2 million last weekend, paving its way toward a $115.7 million launch.

Also Read: 'Ant-Man' Primer: 7 Things You Need to Know About Marvel's Tiniest Hero

However, Marvel’s “The Avengers” still holds the reign of marvel’s biggest opening, with $80.8 million back in 2012.

The last Marvel release, “Avengers: Age of Ultron,” has topped $1 billion at the worldwide box office. “Ant-Man” looks to finish just above “The Incredible Hulk,” which grossed $55.4 million its opening weekend back in 2008.

Director Peyton Reed’s film follows Scott Lang (Paul Rudd), who manages to steal a high-tech suit developed by retired scientist Dr. Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) that allows its wearer to shrink in size but increase their strength and power.

Also Read: Paul Rudd's Tiny 'Ant-Man' on Track for Giant Debut at Box Office

The script is by Edgar Wright and Joe Cornish, Adam McKay and Rudd. The superhero film cost $130 million to produce.

Amy Schumer’s “Trainwreck,” with a production budget of $35 million, grossed a solid $1.8 million last night, on track for a predicted $20 million opening weekend. The R-rated comedy opened at at 2,363 North American theaters and is the fifth film directed by Judd Apatow.

Amy Schumer wrote the screenplay and stars as a sports journalist whose rejection of monogamy is tested when she meets a sports doctor played by Bill Hader. In addition to directing, Judd Apatow produced alongside Barry Mendel.

Also Read: 120 Funny Seconds of 'Trainwreck' Stars Amy Schumer and Bill Hader (Video)

On Fandango, “Trainwreck” is on a fast-track, outselling the summer’s other R-rated comedies, “Ted 2” and Melissa McCarthy‘s “Spy.” The latter took in $1.5 million in Thursday night previews.

“It’s quite the week for Amy Schumer,” Fandango spokesperson Dave Karger told TheWrap. “First, her Comedy Central show gets multiple Emmy nominations, and now her movie is poised to be one of the biggest R-rated comedy hits of the summer, thanks to positive word-of-mouth that began building months ago. Ticket sales for ‘Trainwreck’ on Fandango are very strong and show no signs of slowing down.”

The Evolution of Marvel Movies: From Dolph Lundgren's 'Punisher' to 'Ant-Man' (Photos)

"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