This past Friday, Thanos and company made their way to the last major market Avengers: Infinity War had yet to open in, China, and the result, unsurprisingly, was one for the record books.
Having grossed an unprecedented $250 million-plus stateside, and subsequently becoming the fastest film to reach the $1 billion plateau, Infinity War, as it turns out, received quite the greeting in the Middle Kingdom as well.
After earning $9 million in Thursday previews, the culmination of Marvel Studios’ decade-long effort to unite all of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes on the big screen opened to the tune of $61 million on Friday in China, for a total of $70 million. A revised total slightly lower, albeit, than the $76 million initially reported.
Nevertheless, estimates now suggest that the Anthony and Joe Russo-directed blockbuster has hauled in at least $200 million in China this past weekend. While that’s well above the previous record holder, Monster Hunt 2 ($187.9M), the current exchange rate is creating some confusion.
The Walt Disney Company is reporting that, in local currency, the opening weekend total for Avengers: Infinity War, RMB1.266 billion, is slightly lower than that of The Fate of The Furious, RMB1.352 billion, which is the largest-opening for a Hollywood film in China. However, that total did include $20.5 million earned from 514 IMAX screens, which is the biggest-ever opening weekend for IMAX in the Middle Kingdom.
Regardless of the exchange rate, Avengers: Infinity War dominated the global box office again this weekend, earning another $349 million and bringing its global total to $1.607 billion, making it is the fifth-highest grossing film of all time. That means it now sits behind only Jurassic World, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Titanic and Avatar.
Of course, the one question remaining is will it hit $2 billion? That remains to be seen, but with the way things are going, it very well could.