"Thor" hammers competition with $66 M of opening

LOS ANGELES - "thor" began the season for the film by breaking down the competition at the box office with a weekend of opening of 66 million.

The image of 3D Paramount, based on the Marvel comics action, was by far the film no. 1, according to the Sunday studio estimates.

The actor stars Australian Chris Hemsworth as arrogant God of Thunder who is sent to Earth as punishment. It was directed by Kenneth Branagh, known for making films based on Shakespeare's plays such an epic "Hamlet" and casting Anthony Hopkins, Natalie Portman and Stellan Skarsgard features support.

The second has a duration of effectiveness of last week, the car "Fast five" racing suite of Universal Pictures. It is 32.5 million for a total of nearly $ 140 million $ in just 10 days.

Although the opening of "thor" was not as huge as those of other superhero films, she has always exceeded studio expectations, which were approximately $ 55 million. It is the third highest opening for a launch of Marvel franchise, behind "Spider-Man," which made $ 115 million in 2002, and "iron Man", which was 98.6 million in 2008.

Don Harris, Executive Vice-President of Paramount for distribution, think that the film held appeal for men and women; 37 per cent of the audience was a woman.

"Chris Hemsworth looks like it will be a film star," said Harris. "Kenneth Branagh made a very intelligent film, and the idea that man who is identified more closely with Shakespeare is a Marvel superhero film, I always thought was pretty interesting." Public related to the relationship of Natalie Portman, between his character and Thor. The film looks spectacular on the screen. It was fun, and it is a big film, epic.

Hollywood.com box office analyst Paul Dergarabedian thought "thor" was a very respectable opening, given that this is a lesser-known comic book title.

"Expectations still get wildly exaggerated with superhero films - a super hero movie has the great weekend of opening of all time:"the dark knight"," Dergarabedian, said the hit of the franchise Batman. "."Expectations are still extremely high, especially the first weekend of may, which is traditionally a big weekend. ?

"It can have a strong grip", he added. "It is sometimes not only about opening weekend." It is sometimes on the gameplay. ?

The next big for "thor" competition comes in two weeks, on 20 may, with the opening of "Pirates of the Caribbean: on Stranger tides," the fourth film in the blockbuster Disney franchise. Memorial Day weekend come the follow-up "hangover part II" of Warner Bros. and Paramount "Kung Fu Panda 2".

Opening in a close third and fourth place were two films on the theme of marriage, which served as a counter-programming for shows responsible for effects in the rooms.

"Jumping the broom" TriStar Pictures comes third with 13.7 million dollars, higher than the expectations of studio, which were approximately $ 10 million. Angela Bassett and Loretta Devine star as the mothers of two families who are in conflict as they are about to be United in the marriage of their children.

In the fourth place is the romantic drama of Warner Bros. "something borrowed", based on the best-selling of Emily Giffin, which is approximately $ 13.2 million. Ginnifer Goodwin stars as a lawyer who realizes that she is in love with the fiancé of her best friend, played by Kate Hudson.

-Edition limited, Summit Entertainment "the beaver", starring Mel Gibson: a depressed man who communicates via a beaver puppet, made $ 104,000 in 22 theaters. Carried out by and with Jodie Foster, the television mark the first major role of Gibson since a series of rants out screen and scandals tarnished his reputation. It develops at the national level may 20.

Sale of tickets estimated from Friday to Sunday to Canadian and American theatres according to Hollywood.com. Final figures will be published Monday.

1. "Thor,"$ 66 million."."

2. "Fast five", $ 32.5 million.

3. "Jump the broom" 13.7 million.

4. "Something borrowed", $ 13.2 million.

5. "Rio," $ 8.2 million.

6. "Water for elephants," $ 5.6 million.

7. "Madea Tyler Perry family United," $ 3.9 million.

8. "Prom," $ 2.4 million.

9. "Soul Surfer," $ 2.1 million.

10 "Too hoodwinked!" Hood vs. evil, "$ 1.9 million."