This just in: Iron Man 3 is a huge freaking success.
Iron Man 3 is still a week away from premiering in the U.S. , but it has already nearly met its own budget in overseas markets. According to The Hollywood Reporter , the film has made $195.3 million overseas from 42 markets, beating last year’s The Avengers , which debuted to $181.1 million internationally.
Industry analysts say that part of Iron Man 3 ‘s appeal is that it plays like a sequel to The Avengers , which included Robert Downey Jr.’s Tony Stark in an ensemble cast with other Marvel properties including Captain America, Thor and The Hulk.
Now that all of the Marvel films have a pretty clearly set shared-continuity, the “Phase Two” films have a unique chance to perform better than “Phase One.” Proof of concept is Iron Man 3 , which nearly doubled the opening of Iron Man 2 in 2010.
Disney president of worldwide distribution Dave Hollis refused to speculate on whether the film would beat The Avengers domestically, but was happy with Iron Man 3 ‘s early success.
“To say we are beyond encouraged is an understatement,” he said.
Iron Man 3 pairs Downey with director Shane Black, who takes over the series from Jon Favreau. Gwyneth Paltrow and Don Cheadle also reprise their respective roles from Iron Man 2 .
Thus far, the film has done well with critics . Review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes puts it at a 93 percent approval rating based on 54 reviews from professional critics.
“With the help of its charismatic lead, some impressive action sequences, and even a few surprises, Iron Man 3 is a witty, entertaining adventure and possibly one of Marvel’s best yet,” the site says.
Are you excited for Iron Man 3 ?
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