World Updates

'Avengers' smashes $1 billion mark

LOS ANGELES: "The Avengers" has smashed through the $1 billion mark in global box office earnings, officials figures showed Monday, after the record-breaking movie slain its rivals again on its second weekend.

The comic book superhero blockbuster made $103.1 million over the weekend in North America, following its $207 million opening weekend, the highest-earning debut on record, said box office tracker Exhibitor Relations.

Globally the high-thrills Disney action adventure movie, directed by cult favorite Joss Whedon in collaboration with Marvel Comics, has made $1,002,082,000, according to industry website IMDb.

The success of the movie -- made for an estimated $220 million -- will help mitigate Disney's huge $200 million loss on sci-fi fantasy film "John Carter" in March, which prompted the departure of Walt Disney Studios boss Rich Ross.

The "Avengers," a superhero band including Iron Man, the Incredible Hulk, Captain America and Thor, pounded Tim Burton's new Johnny Depp vampire flick "Dark Shadows," which earned about $29.7 million in its debut weekend.

Romantic comedy "Think Like A Man" slipped into third place earning $5.8 million.

Smash action hit "The Hunger Games" was in the fourth spot in its eighth week on the big screen. The movie, starring Jennifer Lawrence, earned $4.5 million and has raked in more than $387 million since its opening.

In fifth place was tearjerker drama "The Lucky One," an adaptation of a Nicholas Sparks book starring Zac Efron of "High School Musical" fame as a US soldier back from Iraq. The movie made $4.1 million in its fourth weekend.

Emily Blunt and Jason Segel feature "The Five-Year Engagement" stayed in sixth place, with $3.3 million.

"The Pirates! Band of Misfits," a children's animation film from the studio that produced the "Wallace and Gromit" series was in the number seven spot earning $3.1 million.

"The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel," a comedic drama about British retirees in India, was in the number eight spot for the week with $2.7 million.

"Chimpanzee," a true-life, child-friendly adventure about a special chimp in the jungles of Ivory Coast also from the Walt Disney stable, was in ninth, with $1.8 million.

Rounding out the top 10 was "Safe," an action thriller about a girl pursued by the Triads, Russian mobsters and corrupt police for priceless information only she knows, which netted $1.4 million. (AFP)

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