“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.
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.
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.
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.”