Iron Man 2 opens big at international box-office

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Iron Man 2 got off to a flying start overseas with an international debut of $100.2 million, according to box-office estimates issued recently. Iron Man 2 opened in the United States and Canada, a market that this past weekend saw horror film remake A Nightmare On Elm Street take No. 1 with $32.2 million.

Paul Dergarabedian, president of tracking firm Hollywood.com Box Office, said he expects Iron Man 2 to make more than $120 million in the United States and Canada.

“There’s just tremendous interest,” he said.  “It’s the kickoff of the summer movie season. People loved the first film so they’re going to line up for the second one — it should be one of the biggest opening weekends of all time.”

Iron Man 2 opened in 53 international territories this past weekend and made $100.2 million at 6,764 theatres, according to studio estimates. The film was particularly strong in the United Kingdom, where it made $12.2 million and South Korea, where it debuted to $10.8 million. The movie is based on a Marvel Entertainment comic book. It stars Robert Downey Jr. as a billionaire with a suit of armour that he dons to jet through the air and blast away enemies.

The Walt Disney Co last year paid $4 billion to buy Marvel, which in recent years has used its studio division to spearhead film versions of its comic books. Iron Man 2 is the first Marvel film since that deal closed.

Under an agreement that predates Disney’s acquisition of Marvel, Viacom Inc’s Paramount Pictures is distributing Iron Man 2.

Iron Man made $98.6 million in U.S. and Canadian theatres during its opening weekend in 2008. Paramount said that for the 53 territories where Iron Man 2 debuted, it beat Iron Man’s opening gross in local currency by 26 per cent.

Iron Man made $585 million at worldwide box-offices.