*LOS ANGELES: The Avengers have assembled for the last time, and they aredestroying the competition — even before hitting US movie theaters.*
“Avengers: Endgame,” the last in a 22-film arc featuring the beloved MarvelUniverse superheroes, shattered records upon its release in Asia,specifically in China, Disney — which owns Marvel Studios — announcedThursday.
The movie raked in $169 million on Wednesday, its first day of release in25 markets including China, Australia and several countries in Europe.
It set single-day box office records in China, Australia, New Zealand andother countries, said Disney, which bought Marvel Studios in 2009.
The film’s performance in China was impressive — $107.5 million.
In France, “Endgame” scored the biggest opening day for a Marvel film. Itset an overall opening day record in the Netherlands, Greece and Egypt.
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The figures indicate that “Endgame” will surpass the receipts generated bythe previous episode in the “Avengers” saga — “Infinity War” — which cameout last year, it added.
The film will go into wide release in the United States and Canada onFriday, with showings in select cities from Thursday.
Experts predict the well-reviewed “Avengers” finale — featuring RobertDowney Jr, Scarlett Johansson and a raft of other stars — could make$200-260 million in its opening weekend in North America.
The film clocks runs just about three hours, leading US movie chainpowerhouse AMC to schedule showings around the clock in several dozencinemas to satisfy demand from moviegoing fans.
