The Playlist

Obviously: Disney Honcho Bob Iger Confirms 'The Avengers 2' Is In Development

By Kevin Jagernauth
|
May 8, 2012 5:21 PM
|
18 Comments

News

$200 million and change opening weekend in North America. Over $700 million worldwide. Of course, there's going to be a sequel to "The Avengers."

More:

What Next For Joss Whedon, Marvel & Hollywood After The Mammoth Success Of 'The Avengers'?

By Oliver Lyttelton
|
May 7, 2012 2:02 PM
|
7 Comments

Features

Most people thought "The Avengers" would make money. The five official Marvel movies to date, from 2008's "Iron Man" to last year's "Captain America" had, after all, made over $2.2 billion worldwide. But most figured that, given that the film followed on to four franchises simultaneously, that there would be a cap on it: surely if "Iron Man 2" made $600 million worldwide, that was the ceiling for the film's grosses? But thanks to sterling reviews, phenomenal word of mouth, and a strong marketing campaign, the film has already made that sum in less than two weeks of international release, topping it off with a record-breaking U.S. opening weekend of $200 million, $50 million ahead of estimates, and $30 million more than the previous record holder, last year's "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Pt. 2"

More:

Puny God: What Worked & What Didn't In 'The Avengers'

By Oliver Lyttelton
|
May 7, 2012 10:57 AM
|
89 Comments

Features

Given that it made a record-breaking $200 million over the weekend, and has made two-thirds of a billion dollars worldwide in just over ten days, it seems safe to assume that you've seen "The Avengers" by now. And given that the film received a rarer-than-unicorns A+ CinemaScore from audiences, we assume that you enjoyed it. And rightly so. Not one, but two of our reviews agree that it's one of the best comic book movies to date, and one of the more satisfying summer blockbusters in many moons.

More:

Joss Whedon Says 'The Avengers' DVD/Blu-Ray Will Have 30 Minutes Of Deleted Scenes

By Joe Cunningham
|
May 7, 2012 9:38 AM
|
4 Comments

News

We shouldn't really be surprised by this, given that it's Joss Whedon we're dealing with, but it looks like that when it comes to "The Avengers" it seems like there's no end to the awesomeness in sight. Whedon delivered a kick-ass five-star blockbuster to an international crowd, and stepped things up a notch further by adding a second post-credits sting to the version that played to North American audiences this weekend. $200 million record breaking dollars later and he's still not done, with Whedon dropping some hints to Collider about what may turn up on what's now the most anticipated DVD/Blu-ray of the year.

More:

Weekend Box Office: 'The Avengers' Assemble The Biggest Opening Weekend In History With $207 Million

By Gabe Toro
|
May 6, 2012 11:50 AM
|
17 Comments

Box Office

Box office: you just got Avenged. Combining the feature attractions of four separate blockbusters, "The Avengers" was looking to at least surpass the first weekend gross of "Iron Man 2," which pulled in a non-3D three-day total of $128 million during this weekend two years ago. However, few expected the team-up film to approach the final domestic tallies of both "Thor" and "Captain America: The First Avenger," roughing up previous weekend record-holder "Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows Part Two." That 3D-enhanced final installment of the "Potter" series still holds the record for the biggest opening day at $91 million, but "The Avengers"' $80 million Friday wasn't as frontloaded, and the film will finish Sunday at the top of the blockbuster opening weekend summit. Hooray money!

More:

In Theaters: 'The Avengers' Is 'A Little Bit Of Heaven'; Have It 'My Way' At 'The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel'

By Emma Bernstein
|
May 4, 2012 5:02 PM
|
0 Comments

News

Well, people, it’s here. Each year, starting around Memorial Day and continuing through the early weeks of summer, we find ourselves knee-deep in a period marked by the release of monstrously large popcorn flicks, movies that show off stars and special effects while raking in the dough. That’s right: it’s the season of the terminal illness drama-comedy. And the studios aren’t wasting any time with two films already released this first weekend. Oh, wait – just kidding. It’s Summer Blockbuster Season! And we’re off to a great start with Marvel’s debut picture this weekend. Buckle up.

More:

Joss Whedon's Batman, How Black Widow Nearly Got The Axe & 15 More Revelations From 'The Avengers' Press Tour

By Oliver Lyttelton
|
May 4, 2012 12:00 PM
|
5 Comments

Features

If it's somehow escaped your notice, "The Avengers" is in theaters today. One of the biggest gambles in blockbuster history, it looks to have paid off: the reviews have been hugely positive, it's already closing on $300 million from the international box office, and stands to break records over this weekend in the U.S. too.

More:

Nick Fury Rages Against New York Times Critic A.O. Scott Over Negative 'The Avengers' Review

By Kevin Jagernauth
|
May 4, 2012 11:29 AM
|
7 Comments

News

"The Avengers" hits theaters in North America today and besides probably breaking box office records, it seems to be the rare summer blockbuster that is loved by pretty much everyone. Critics and fanboys alike have, for the most part, aligned in their praise for Joss Whedon's superhero team up. And while there have been a few dissenting voices, one of the most prominent is New York Times critic A.O. Scott -- and Samuel L. Jackson doesn't like it.

More:

Before They Assembled: The Best Performances From The Cast Of 'The Avengers'

By Oliver Lyttelton
|
May 3, 2012 3:59 PM
|
15 Comments

Features

For all the many strengths of "The Avengers," there's one that writer-director Joss Whedon can't take credit for: the casting. Of the main characters, only one, Mark Ruffalo as Bruce Banner/The Hulk, hasn't appeared in one of the previous five Marvel movies that have led to this point. So given the casting committee that assembled The Avengers, it's something of a miracle that it's ended up with one of the most enjoyable collection of actors in a big tentpole movie for quite some time.

More:

Watch: Video For Soundgarden's "Live To Rise" Features More 'Avengers' Footage, Old Dudes Rocking

By Kevin Jagernauth
|
May 3, 2012 11:56 AM
|
1 Comment

News

"It's such a different environment. In this day and age you don't have the monolithic record company with seemingly limitless resources and multimillion-dollar profits. They don't exist. Which is why a partnership like this exists. The movie company does have that, and they will promote it. It's the only way to get your music in front of people," Chris Cornell recently told THR. Oh how times have changed since Badmotorfinger....

More: