“X-Men: Days of Future Past” dominates box office with $91 million

PanARMENIAN.Net - Fox’s “X-Men: Days of Future Past” stormed the worldwide box office, grossing a boffo $261.8 million, of which an estimated $90.7 million comes from the domestic market in three days. Pic’s global haul marks the biggest opening weekend for the superhero franchise, The Hollywood Reporter said.

While Fox plans to release four-day Stateside estimates for “X-Men” on Monday, May 26 it’s safe to project the film will earn in the ballpark of $110 million over the long Memorial Day weekend.

“X-Men: Days of Future Past,” a starry merger of fan-favorite mutants from the franchise’s two separate iterations, bowed at No. 1 in all 119 overseas countries this weekend, collecting $171.1 million internationally.

The film’s boffo worldwide start was foretold for weeks leading up to this weekend. And while it marks a series best, the domestic opening — of which premium large formats, led by Cinemark, contributed $8.2 million (or 9%) on 352 screens — was unable to lift the overall B.O. to the same heights achieved last year, when “Fast and Furious 6″ and “The Hangover Part III” competed head-on for the holiday crown.

This year, “X-Men” saw very little help from its fellow opener, Warner Bros.’ Adam Sandler-Drew Barrymore reunion, “Blended,” which tanked grossing just $14.2 million Friday-Sunday. Still, “Blended” scored a better-than-average ‘A-’ CinemaScore, which could help it leg out with families; Disney’s “Maleficent” will provide stiff competition in that sector next weekend, however.

Warner’s B.O. champ from last weekend, “Godzilla,” provided considerable support to overall totals, with $31.4 million, despite a sizeable three-day drop, down 66%. That pic has amassed nearly $150 million Stateside in just two weeks, crossing the $300 million threshold worldwide. Filling out the top ranks, Universal’s “Neighbors” estimated $13.9 million through Sunday, with a projected $17.3 million in four days, bringing its domestic cume to $117 million.

And expanding to nearly 500 Stateside engagements, Open Road’s “Chef” delivered a tastey $2.3 million in three days, with the distrib estimating the pic will gross just shy of $3 million in four. Entering its third frame, the Jon Favreau-directed food-themed comedy has cumed more than $4 million domestically through Monday.