Man of Steel, the big-budget reboot of the Superman franchise, leaped over the apocalyptic buddy comedy This is the End, collecting a muscular $113.1 million to lead the domestic box office with the year’s second-largest debut weekend and the biggest June opening ever.
Man of Steel, starring British-born Henry Cavill in the first Superman movie released in seven years, carried a hefty budget of $225 million and took in a total of $125 million through Sunday including early screenings, according to BoxOffice.com.
The special-effects laden film is the story of the infant Kal-El, who escapes his doomed home planet Krypton and grows up in the idyllic town of Smallville with his parents, played by Kevin Costner and Diane Lane. Amy Adams plays the budding superhero’s girlfriend Lois Lane.
The film, directed by Zack Snyder, with Christopher Nolan (The Dark Knight, Inception) serving as co-writer and one of its producers, added $71.6 million from overseas box offices in 24 markets.
“Today is a big day for us,” said Warner Bros’ president of theatrical distribution Dan Fellman, noting the film’s record opening. He added that Man of Steel was now well-poised to reap big box office “in the heart of the summer play time”.
The studio was also pleased by 56 per cent male, 44 per cent female audience, which Fellman said bodes well being a higher-female make-up than was usual for superhero-centred pictures.
“The film is playing extremely well for fan boys as well as the family,” he said.
This is the End, written by star Seth Rogen and his childhood friend Evan Goldberg, collected $20.5 million at theatres in the domestic market comprised of the US and Canada, according to studio estimates collected by Reuters.
“We’re off to a really good start,” said Rory Bruer, Sony Pictures’ president of worldwide distribution.
Citing “great word of mouth”, Bruer predicted the movie “is going to be one of those films that’s going to be around for a good part of summer. It’s so fresh and original,” he added.
The comedy depicting the end of the world stars more than a dozen well-known Hollywood actors including James Franco, Jonah Hill, Michael Cera and Emma Watson.
In third place, the comedy heist caper Now You See Me continued its stronger-than-expected showing with ticket sales of $10.3 million, bringing its three-week total to $80 million.