The way **Avengers: Age Of Ultron **is performing at the box office, the best metaphor is the superheroes assembled in a climactic moment from the film, batting away the competition like invading robo-menaces. Marvel’s latest took in $77.2 million at US cinemas this weekend, according to studio estimates.
And if it keeps to the trend of last weekend, where the final official tally came in higher than expected at $191.2 million, the sequel is performing beyond the original, despite opening slightly lower. Globally, the coffers now stand loaded with more than $874.9 million and the billion-dollar club’s doors are expected to swing open soon, probably before the end of this week.
Despite serving as canny counterprogramming, especially on Mother’s Day weekend in the States, the Reese Witherspoon/Sofia Vergara buddy comedy **Hot Pursuit **didn’t manage to score much of a win, opening to $13.3 million, though the Sunday figures could provide a boost when the final accounting is done. Age Of Adaline stayed where it was in third, adding $5.6 million, while Fast & Furious 7 was fourth, earning $5.2 million for a healthy $338.4 million so far in the US alone. Bringing up the rear in fifth we find Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2, with Kevin James’ comedy sequel taking home $5.1 million.
**Ex Machina **continued to impress, adding a few screens and jumping up a place to sixth with $3.4 million and more than $15 million in the States. DreamWorks Animation’s Home slipped a couple of places to seventh and $3 million, while Woman In Gold leapt up two spots to eighth with $1.6 million. Cinderella fell to ninth and $1.5 million while horror pic Unfriended dropped to tenth, adding $1.4 million for a $30.9 million total to date – not bad for a movie that cost around $1 million to make, minus marketing costs.
To see Cap and co. take on a mismatched pair in the full listings, head to Box Office Mojo.