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Even with pirated copy available, The Avengers shatters box office records

It appears that actually putting together a strong cast and a good story can still lead to strong box office sales.

The Marvel blockbuster "The Avengers" has sailed to a $200 million opening weekend, despite pirated copies being available from the movie's international release a week earlier. The figure is the largest in history, by far, beating out last year's Harry Potter finale by $30 million.



In just one week, the film has brought in an astonishing $650 million internationally. That total is more than individual movies "Thor," "Iron Man," and "Captain America" made during their lifetime runs, although each were successful.

Disney, the distributor of the film, says the final figures may even end of being slightly higher: "There aren't even words, to be honest. I'm running low on double takes. Every time we looked at a number, it just got bigger than what we could have hoped for in the best-case assumption. With this film, this weekend, anything is possible."

The Avengers film stars an all-star cast of superheroes including Iron Man, Hulk, Captain America, Nick Fury and Hawkeye.

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 6 May 2012 16:52

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• 22 comments

• stuntz0rZ

  Where is this pirate copy that you speak of! There is none out there other than CAM. Which is too crappy to enjoy
  

  6.5.2012 18:14 #1

• Semperfipal

  This proves (At least to me) those who pirate movies wouldn't pay to seem them in the local theater or purchase the DVD anyway no matter how good the flick may be.

  6.5.2012 18:23 #2

• cyprusrom

  Originally posted by Semperfipal: This proves (At least to me) those who pirate movies wouldn't pay to seem them in the local theater or purchase the DVD anyway no matter how good the flick may be. Hmmm...Me thinks you meant the opposite. Those who pirate movies, if it's a good movie(tastes no to be discussed...), will buy/go to see it, hence an excellent box office record. Talking from experience? Maybe...

  6.5.2012 19:05 #3

• Crimson_Prince

  Originally posted by cyprusrom: Originally posted by Semperfipal: This proves (At least to me) those who pirate movies wouldn't pay to seem them in the local theater or purchase the DVD anyway no matter how good the flick may be. Hmmm...Me thinks you meant the opposite. Those who pirate movies, if it's a good movie(tastes no to be discussed...), will buy/go to see it, hence an excellent box office record. Talking from experience? Maybe... I do concur
  

  6.5.2012 19:43 #4

• ThePastor

  Yeah really,
  Avengers is not available for download, currently.
  Only crappy CAM versions.
  
  That being said. Well, yeah. What did you expect? This film has been highly sought after for a long time. And I'm guessing it doesn't suck. And since there hasn't been a decent movie in ages this movie is going to rake it in.
  
  Personally, if I were honest I would have to say that the movie industry doesn't really have anything to worry about with piracy. It's the TV industry that had better get its ass together.
  People will go see movies whether it's available for download or not because its an "experience", and always will be.
  Yeah, maybe they will lose some disk sales, but disk sales are dead anyway. Legal downloads? Sure, that's at risk. But only because you make it so gawd-aweful to do.
  
  Televisions legal experience just sucks. You only get what they want you to see. Only when they want you to see it and only in the format you pay for.
  The illegal TV world offers a FAR better experience.
  
  Movies - Quit worrying about Piracy.
  TV - Get your ass in gear or lose your entire industry.

  6.5.2012 20:04 #5

• Mysttic

  Honestly worth every penny to take the kids to see it. Lots of humor, lots of action.
  
  So Since I ended up paying $60 for 4 of us and snacks, do I get to pirate it legally now? (joke)

  6.5.2012 21:10 #6

• KillerBug

  The headline should read, "thanks to availability of pirated copy, avengers breaks box office records when no one would have otherwise gone to it because they would have assumed it to be crap"...well, that's a bit long for a headline, but at least it would be true.
  

  
  

  6.5.2012 21:23 #7

• Mr_Bill06

  I don't go see movies often any more in theaters due to price and I went to see this. It's very rare for me to want to see a movie when it comes out like The Avengers. The only other movie I can see myself going to is the next Dark Knight. I think if we had a better theater with 3D and all the new gear I would go more often. Even then I still wouldn't go more then maybe once a month. I want to make sure my money is not wasted on a it's just an okay movie.
  

  6.5.2012 21:28 #8

• guinnyss

  Have to comment :)
  
  Just saw the movie at the theater in 3D. I loved it, especially since my favorite character Hulk had everyone on edge and kicked the shit out of the 2 demigods.
  
  Kinda disappointed he didn't pick up Thor hammer, not like he didn't do it before.

  7.5.2012 02:16 #9

• thebeacon

  Quote:It appears that actually putting together a strong cast and a good story can still lead to strong box office sales. It doesn't have to be a strong cast, just a good story will do!.
  

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  7.5.2012 04:17 #10

• DK1979

  3D had something to do with it too i would imagine.
  

  7.5.2012 06:43 #11

• KillerBug

  Originally posted by thebeacon: Quote:It appears that actually putting together a strong cast and a good story can still lead to strong box office sales. It doesn't have to be a strong cast, just a good story will do!.
  Tell that to the people who make (true) indie movies with great stories and cast members that couldn't play a coma victim while sleeping.
  
  Originally posted by DK1979: 3D had something to do with it too i would imagine.
  Aren't all Hollywood movies 3D now?
  

  
  

  7.5.2012 08:12 #12

• nbfreak2

  Shows that movies worth seeing in the theater get seen there...
  

  7.5.2012 08:13 #13

• kabledog

  Originally posted by Mysttic: Honestly worth every penny to take the kids to see it. Lots of humor, lots of action.
  
  So Since I ended up paying $60 for 4 of us and snacks, do I get to pirate it legally now? (joke) 60 bucks to watch a movie? I thought 60 bucks for a game was ridiculous.
  
  Why not just wait for it to hit a $1 dvd kiosk....you could have seen it for 25 cents a piece and shared 2 bags of popcorn and a 2 liter of coke for 3 bucks.

  7.5.2012 10:10 #14

• molsen

  I thought the script was well written. Added to the Iron man story. Maybe the Hulk will come out with a new movie. Saw it only in 2d and thought it was awesome. Here is proof positive to the alleged adverse effects of pirating. Just because people will pirate it, you can and will make money if it is a good product.

  7.5.2012 13:24 #15

• Ryoohki

  i want to see this movie so bad. i am a die hard marvel fan and have been waiting for this lol. unfortunately i have to wait a little longer for everybody to be off of work at the same time so we can go together. i usually watch the cam first to see if its worth having a theater experience but i'm holding off for right now. people i know who have seen it says it kicks ass.
  

  7.5.2012 14:54 #16

• SuikoNiNjitZu

  it's so Amazing that the Music Industry's Profits have done nothing but Go UP UP UP Since the 1950's even with all this pirate bitching anybody would want to see a movie on the big screen instead of sitting at home aslong as it's a good enough epic enough Movie with Quality why spend 30 effen dollars to see some garbage like Hurtlocker piracy is for poor people that just wan't to see good thing's like everbody else who has money it doesnt hurt nothing unless the creator of something's gets no due respect any honorable person would give the creator of something good if he such thou made money of it

  7.5.2012 15:08 #17

• DK1979

  Originally posted by KillerBug: Originally posted by DK1979: 3D had something to do with it too i would imagine.
  Aren't all Hollywood movies 3D now? Yeah now a days it seems like it but again to my point 3D being the reason why more and more go see the movies in theathers again atleast where i'm from the nr's have been goin up.
  
  Personally i'm not that interested in 3D that i have to see all the movies right away, i have no problem waiting for blockbuster to sell the used blurays but in this case i proberly can't wait for that though (still havn't seen it yet due to hetic work hrs)
  

  7.5.2012 15:47 #18

• Hrdrk20

  I was all prepared to wait and see Avengers in Imax until I saw some friends watching the cam version. I got a copy and started watching. It was all WOW, WOW, OMG! lol. I made it halfway up to a certain point and could not continue. I'm going to see the Imax version before watching the complete cam version again. When people ask, I tell them it's a five star movie. Yep, it's THAT GOOD!

  7.5.2012 17:53 #19

• Mr_Bill06

  Originally posted by DK1979: Yeah now a days it seems like it but again to my point 3D being the reason why more and more go see the movies in theathers again atleast where i'm from the nr's have been goin up. I don't think 3D has as big of a pull to bring people to the theaters as you think for all 3D movies. I think for The Avengers it did add more to the I GOT TO SEE THIS NOW! People have been wanting a movie like this for a while now, so even if it was not in 3D I doubt it would have had a bad impact on the movie. When I went to see this movie I thought to myself wow this movie would kick ass if it was in 3D, as I didn't know it was filmed in 3D and our theater does not do 3D. I can't wait for the 3D Blu-ray so I can watch it in 3D. I just wish our theater had 3D, I know many many years ago I had experienced theater 3D and to date it was the best 3D I have ever seen in my life.
  

  8.5.2012 02:57 #20

• Robbin hood (unverified)

  THIS IS SOOOOO SHIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THANKS LOL K BYE

  11.7.2012 18:37 #21

• scorpNZ

  Yeah dam good movie looking forward to the next one as well as thor 2 next year
  

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  2.10.2012 12:39 #22