Superman is finally back at the movies after a much too long absence. Zach Snyder’s Man of Steel is in theaters this weekend to help us forget about the 2006 dud Superman Returns and hopefully to provide Warner Bros. with a launching point for more DC Comics films. While it’s not likely to open in the same range as Iron Man 3, if Man of Steel doesn’t break the $100 million mark, it could be viewed as a flop.
As Box Office Mojo notes, the film has a chance to break the opening weekend mark for June. Toy Story 3 still holds the record with $110.3 million, while Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen also opened with $127.8 million over a long weekend.
Warner Bros. has made sure that the film is everywhere in recent months, with Henry Cavill in the Superman costume front and center. The studio recruited Christopher Nolan to produce, so the studio has been able to market it as “from the filmmaker of The Dark Knight Trilogy.” Snyder is also a known commodity in the comic book community, having directed the hit 300 and Watchmen.
It is expected that it will reach $100 million, while EW is on the optimistic side, pegging a $132 million opening.
According to THR, the film has already scored $1.7 million in the Philippines and $794,742 in Taiwan, records for both countries. It will also open in the U.K. and Mexico this weekend. More territories get to see it next weekend.
Man of Steel isn’t the only new film at the box office. Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg’s This Is the End wisely opened on Wednesday, grossing $7.8 million on opening day. It’s expected to gross around $30 million over the weekend.
In limited release, there’s Sofia Coppola’s much-buzzed about The Bling Ring, which opens in five locations.
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