‘Transformers: Age Of Extinction’ Crosses $1 Billion At Box Office, Will ‘Guardians Of The Galaxy’ Ultimately Topple It Though?
Transformers: Age Of Extinction has become the first film of 2014 to make over $1 billion at the global box office.
The Michael Bay robotic blockbuster officially crossed this amount over the weekend, and so far it has grossed $241.2 million in the United States, while a quite staggering $763.8 million was taken in across the rest of the world.
In its sixth weekend at the box office, it added a further $19.1 million to its total, which helped to push it over the threshold. In doing this, it has become only the second film from the Transformers franchise to make over a billion dollars.
The 2011 follow-up Dark Of The Moon took in $1.1 billion, while 2007’s Transformers and 2009’s Revenge Of The Fallen only grossed the paltry sums of $70 9million and $836 million, respectively.
Age Of Extinction has now taken in over $160 million more than its closest box office rival, X-Men: Days Of Future Past, which has amassed $739.9 million. These two films are then followed by Maleficent’s $717.6 million, Captain America: The Winter Solider’s $713.2 million and The Amazing Spider-Man 2‘s $707.8 million.
Much of the reason for the fourth installment to the Transformers franchise’s success is the fact that it has grossed over $300 million in China alone. By reaching this total it has become the highest-grossing film ever in the country. It is still yet to open in Spain, Japan, and Venezuela, which means that its run is far from over.
You can expect many more Michael Bay movies of the same ilk from Paramount Pictures in the near future too, as the studio recently signed a new first-look deal with the filmmaker.
Brad Grey, Paramount’s chairman and CEO, explained of their decision to sign him to a long-term contract:
“Time and again, Michael has delivered pictures that audiences around the globe truly love. Along with the immensely talented and versatile Mark Wahlberg, the great Steven Spielberg as executive producer, and a superb cast, he created a powerful re-launch of this franchise. This tremendous accomplishment — to be the first film of 2014 to earn over $1 billon at the box office – proves once again that Michael is a world-class filmmaker at the top of his game. We are proud to have expanded our relationship with him and that he will continue to make Paramount his home for years to come.”
However, a rival to Transformers: Age Of Extinction’s box-office supremacy could come in the shape of Guardians of the Galaxy. Marvel’s latest offering has already taken in $95 million in its opening weekend and the critically acclaimed sci-fi opera has proved to be such a surprise that every prediction from box office analysts has been altered.
The fact that GotG has been compared to the Star Wars and Indiana Jones franchises also suggests that viewers of all ages have been enticed to the multiplexes by the comic-book adaptation, and Marvel will be hoping that they are so impressed by the origin story that they will return to see it all summer long.
