Christmas in May? Marvel’s Iron Man 3 launched in the U.S. and Canada this weekend with $174.2 million at the box office, the year’s biggest opening and the second biggest opening of all time after only Marvel’s The Avengers. In just 12 days, the third installment of Marvel’s blockbuster Iron Man franchise – which began its international rollout April 24 – has taken in a staggering $677 million at the global box office. And on the heels of Iron Man 3’sinternational success, The Walt Disney Studios has crossed the $1 billion mark at the international box office for 2013 – our 19th year in a row and a new Studio speed record.
The Christmas-set action adventure features the brash but brilliant billionaire industrialist Tony Stark haunted by previous events and up against an enemy whose reach knows no bounds. When his personal world is destroyed, Tony embarks on a journey that will test his mettle at every turn and finally answer the question: Does the man make the suit, or does the suit make the man?
One thing’s for sure – the man has fans. Robert Downey Jr., the man behind the man, toured the globe throughout April promoting Iron Man 3 and delighting fans in Seoul, Beijing, Munich, Moscow, Paris, London, New York and Los Angeles. The film directed by Shane Black also stars Ben Kingsley, Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle, Rebecca Hall, and Guy Pearce.
The global audience has led Marvel’s Iron Man 3 to achieve the biggest opening weekend of all time in over 10 territories, including Argentina, Hong Kong, Thailand, and South Africa, and it’s the biggest Marvel opening in more than 15 territories. Additionally, it set opening-day records in China, Russia, Taiwan, Philippines, Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand, Ukraine and South Africa.