'Captain Marvel' roars at global box office while awaiting release in Pakistan

Marvel's latest offering crossed $494 million for a massive global haul of $760 million

LOS ANGELES: Newcomers were no match for Disney’s Captain Marvelat the domestic box office. The superhero blockbuster soared past the competition, bringing in $69 million in its second weekend of release, while awaiting release in Pakistan.

Marvel’s first comic-book tentpole to spotlight a female superhero surpassed $265 million in ticket sales domestically. Overseas, “Captain Marvel” crossed $494 million for a massive global haul of $760 million.

PHOTO: FILE

In less than two weeks, Captain Marvel has eclipsed the lifetime sums of numerous superhero adventures, including Ant-Man and the Wasp ($623 million), Iron Man 2 ($624 million), Thor: Dark World ($645 million), and Captain America: Winter Soldier ($714 million). It’s already the 22nd-biggest comic-book release ever.

After a sluggish start to 2019, it has been Captain Marvel to the rescue. Ticket sales are up over 3% from the same weekend in 2018, according to Comscore. As a whole, the domestic box office is still struggling to match last year’s record with receipts pacing 19% behind 2018.

PHOTO: GEEKY TYRANT

Paramount Pictures’ Wonder Park, an animated adventure set in an amusement park based on the imagination of a young girl, bowed in second place and had the best start among new releases. It arrived ahead of industry expectations with $16 million when it launched in 3,838 locations, though it will need to pick up steam to justify its healthy budget.

Landing at No 3 is CBS and Lionsgate’s Five Feet Apart, a romantic drama about two teenagers who meet and fall in love while being treated for cystic fibrosis. Directed by Jane the Virgin actor Justin Baldoni, Five Feet Apart generated $13 million from 2,803 venues, a sizable start considering it carries a $7 million price tag. Starring The Edge of Seventeen and Split actror Haley Lu and Cole Sprouse, the film catered mostly to young females. Women represented 82% of opening weekend crowds, while 45% were under 18 years old.

PHOTO: LIONSGATE

Universal’s How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World secured fourth place, picking up $9.3 million from 3,727 locations. That takes the conclusion of the animated trilogy past $135 million in ticket sales in North America.

At the specialty box office, Focus Features’ The Mustang amassed $76,000 when it debuted in four theaters, averaging out to $18,950 per venue. The feature directorial debut of French actor Laure de Clermont-Tonnerre, which follows a convict who participates in a rehabilitation program that involves training wild mustangs, skewed toward women as females made up 66% of its opening weekend audience. The studio is expanding it to 50 theaters next weekend.

PHOTO: GEEKY TYRANT

Meanwhile, Fox Searchlight’s The Aftermath opened on five screens, earning $57,000 over the three days ($11,500 per location). The war drama stars Keira Knightley, Alexander Skarsgard, and Jason Clarke.

March looks to cap off a solid month at the domestic box office with Jordan Peele’s Us arriving next weekend and Disney’s remake of Dumbo hitting theaters shortly after. Both films are expected to debut with over $35 million in ticket sales.

Have something to add to the story? Share it in the comments below.