Marvel Entertainment's "Iron Man 3" has become the year's most successful film, boasting the biggest opening day of all time for China and Russia, and the second-biggest opening of all time in the U.S., at $175.3 million.
From the AP:
"Iron Man 3" had the second-biggest domestic debut ever, behind the $207.4 million start over the same weekend last year for "The Avengers," which teamed Downey's Stark with other Marvel Comics heroes. The new sequel surpassed the $169.2 million opening for 2011's "Harry Potter" finale, the previous second-place debut.
In just nine days, the film shot past the $312 million international total for "Iron Man 2" in its entire theatrical run.
Among the overseas totals so far: $63.5 million in China, $42.6 million in South Korea, $38.3 million in Great Britain and $35.8 million in Mexico.
Disney, Marvel Studio's parent company, attributes part of the film's success to its ongoing "Avengers" franchise, of which "Iron Man" character Tony Stark is a part. "A year ago, we speculated as to the impact of Avengers, and now we're witnessing it first-hand with the success of Iron Man 3," said studio distribution chief Dave Hollis.
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