Chris Hemsworth as Thor
Paramount and Marvel Studios’ 3D successfully introduced a new superhero to the big screen. “Thor” opened and got $66 million after 3 days at the domestic box office from about 3,955 theaters.
Overseas after 11 days, the movie earned $176 million which was way better compares to other Marvel owned movies like “X-Men” which earned $139 million and “Fantastic Four” which earned $175.9 million. “Thor” grossed a total of $242 million worldwide.
“When you look at the Marvel brand, to be at this level of success on a global level is certainly a great story. It was also a great move on Marvel’s part to go with Kenneth Branagh and Chris Hemsworth,” ,” Rob Moore, Paramount’s vice chairman said.
Walt Disney Co’s Marvel Studios produced “Thor” for $150 million. It was distributed by Viacom Inc’s Paramount Pictures. Chris Hemsworth, an Australian actor was chosen to be the arrogant god of thunder. He was sent down to Earth with the mortals as a punishment. British actor and director Kenneth Branagh directed the film. He is best known for Shakespearean based making films like “Hamlet”.
Although Thor’s opening wasn’t as big as of other superhero movies like Spider-Man and Iron Man, it still managed to exceed the $55 million studio expectations. The 2002 “Spider-Man” made $115 million and 2008’s “Iron Man” made $98.6 million. Thor made it to the third-highest Marvel franchise opening launch.
Paramount’s Don Harris, the executive vice president for distribution said the film won the interest of both men and women. People over the age of 25 made up most of the film’s audience, 63% were males and 37% females. Harris also said, “Chris Hemsworth looks like he’s going to be a movie star. Kenneth Branagh made a very smart movie, and the idea that the man who’s most closely identified with Shakespeare is making a Marvel superhero movie, I always thought was pretty interesting. Audiences connected with the Natalie Portman relationship, between her character and Thor. The movie looks spectacular on the screen. It was fun, and it’s a big, epic movie.”
Box office analyst Paul Dergarabedian of Hollywood.com thought Thor’s opening was pretty respectable since it wasn’t a known comic book title. “Expectations always get wildly overblown with superhero movies — a superhero movie has the biggest opening weekend of all time: `The Dark Knight,’” Dergarabedian said about the popular franchise. “Expectations are always extremely high, especially on the first weekend in May, which is traditionally a huge weekend. It may have a solid hold. Sometimes it’s not just about opening weekend. Sometimes it’s about playability,” Paul added.
Universal Pictures’ “Fast Five” is in second place in the box office making $32.5 million. TriStar Pictures’ “Jumping the Broom” came in third with $13.7 million and Warner Bros. “Something Borrowed,” is in fourth place making about $13.2 million.
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