Sales of tickets to "thor" and "Fast five" (Reuters)

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - the God of Thunder reigned North American box-office as "thor" became the most recent Marvel comics superhero to jump on the big screen.

According to studio estimates was issued Sunday, the 3D Marvel Comics adaptation has sold approximately $ 66 million in tickets in its first three days of release across the United States and the Canada, according to industry forecasts.

It is the second biggest opening of the year, a week after "Fast five" set a new record with its start from $ 86 million.

Films traded places at the international level, with "Fast five" winning 87 million over the weekend and "Thor" 46 million.

The action duo leads the tentative recovery of Hollywood from a dismal year which saw North American ticket sales plunge approximately 14%. But the industry hopes to gain more ground in the coming weeks with new suites for "Pirates of Caribbean", "The hangover" and "kung fu Panda."

"Thor", featuring Australian actor Chris Hemsworth in the title role, was directed by Kenneth Branagh, a filmmaker known for his skillful handling of Shakespearean material and British actor.

Critics generally approve of the film, and moviegoers surveyed by survey firm CinemaScore gave him a rating of B-more solid, according to Paramount. Men accounted for almost two thirds of the audience.

But its $ 66 million to open fell far from the first payments of other films in the stable of Marvel, Spider-Man 2002 "(115_millions_de_dollars) and"Iron Man of 2008"(99 million dollars)."

RELEASE OF 2011 TOP "FAST FIVE".

Somewhat worrying, it barely exceeded the beginning of 62 million for "hulk" in 2003, the first of two attempts to turn the green man in anger a film franchise.

However, the outdated top "Thor" hand "X – Men" openings (54 million dollars) and "Fantastic Four" 2005 (56 million dollars) for the years 2000.

"It is a good starting point and a solid place for this franchise," said Don Harris, Executive Vice President of distribution for Paramount Pictures.

The unit of Viacom Inc. distributed the film of $ 150 million on behalf of Walt Disney Co Marvel Studios.

"Fast five", the fifth opus of the series of street racing, fell to no. 2 with $ 32.5 million, taking dragged its $ 140 million total North America. He replaced the animation "Rango" (120 million dollars) as the larger version of the year so far.

Its total international has increased to $ 185 million, ahead of "thor" with $ 176 million. The largest international release so far this year is the "Rio" animation, with sales of $ 292 million after only a month.

"Fast five" was released by Universal Pictures, a unit of Comcast Corp-controlled NBC Universal.

Two other new versions, two wedding-themed comedies targeted women, entered the fray in North America.

"Jumping the broom" opened at no. 3 with $ 13.7 million, doubling its cost of production of $ 6.6 million. "Something Borrowed" followed No. 4 with $ 13.2 million. Both have been expected to open in the range of $ 11 million.

"Jumping the broom" was published by TriStar Pictures, a unit of Sony Corp. "something borrowed" was published by Warner Bros. Pictures, a unit of Time Warner Inc..

(Reported by Dean Goodman.) (Editing by Vicki Allen and Laura MacInnis)