Life & Style

X-Men overpowers Godzilla on way to holiday weekend win

The movie scored the fifth-biggest Memorial Day weekend opening in history.

May 26, 2014

The movie has already earned a global total of $261.8 million after opening at No. 1 in all 119 countries around the world. PHOTO: FILE

LOS ANGELES: The X-Men mutant superheroes smashed into US and Canadian theatres and collected $90.7 million in ticket sales through Sunday, keeping monster hit Godzilla at bay and heading toward a decisive win over a long holiday weekend.

X-Men: Days of Future Past was expected to bring in $110 million by the end of the US Memorial Day holiday on Monday, distributor 20th Century Fox said. The movie has already earned a global total of $261.8 million after opening at No. 1 in all 119 countries around the world.

Last week’s winner, monster movie remake Godzilla, dropped to second place with $31.4 million through Sunday, according to estimates from box office tracking firm Rentrak. Its sales were projected to reach $39 million by Monday.

Romantic comedy Blended claimed the No. 3 spot, taking in $14.2 million and on pace for about $17 million through Monday.

X-Men: Days of Future Past is the seventh movie in the blockbuster Marvel Comics franchise about mutant superheroes.

In the latest instalment, actor Hugh Jackman’s sharp-clawed Wolverine travels back in time to try and save the mutants from future destruction. To alter history, he is drawn into battle with the blue, shape-shifting Mystique, portrayed by Jennifer Lawrence in the $200 million film.

The movie scored the fifth-biggest Memorial Day weekend opening in history, Rentrak said.

Godzilla, a remake of the classic 1954 Japanese monster movie, stars Aaron Taylor-Johnson as a naval officer who battles the rampaging beast. “The film is holding strong even with huge competition in the marketplace and will have just under $160 million in North America through Monday,” said Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst at Rentrak.

Blended reunites actors Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore as single parents who have a bad blind date, then find themselves staying at the same African resort with their kids.

Rounding out the chart leaders, the Seth Rogen comedy Neighbors landed in fourth place with $13.9 million. Superhero sequel The Amazing Spider-Man 2 was fifth with $7.8 million.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 27^th, 2014.

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