Despite the Marvel branding, Guardians of the Galaxy has always been seen as a huge risk/experiment for the company. Much like the little engine that could, not only did the film perform well at the box office (like all other Marvel properties), it absolutely demolished projected earnings. Analysts were cautious in their projections, estimating roughly $70m for the film; however, it opened to an astounding $94m, putting it in third place for the year behind Captain America: The Winter Soldier and Transformers: Age of Extinction. The risk going into the film’s opening surrounded the characters’ small following that didn’t have the same broad appeal the way the Avengers characters did, as well as James Gunn’s directing style that is more humorous and irreverent than previous Marvel films. Thankfully, all of that proved to be moot with Guardians‘ critically and financially successful opening weekend. With Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles opening next weekend, it should be a good sign for Hollywood that late summer/early August films do have the capacity to carry the blockbuster momentum into the fall.
You can read the entire weekend’s box office numbers below.
1. Guardians of the Galaxy – $94,000,000
2. Lucy – $18,283,420
3. Get On Up – $14,030,580
4. Hercules – $10,700,000
5. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes – $8,700,000
6. Planes: Fire and Rescue – $6,424,000
7. The Purge: Anarchy – $5,551,040
8. Sex Tape – $3,550,000
9. And So It Goes – $3,344,160
10. A Most Wanted Man – $3,324,265
[via Rentrak]