Iron Man Makes Bank

The article also mentions that Marvel Studios has The Incredible Hulk and Punisher: War Zone coming this summer. Since those movies’ predecessors didn’t do too hot at the box office, I won’t stay hopeful for huge Iron Man-like numbers (well, maybe for Hulk).

clipped from movies.yahoo.com The Marvel Comics adaptation, starring Robert Downey Jr. as the guy in the metal suit, hauled in $100.7 million during its opening weekend and $104.2 million since debuting Thursday night, the second-best premiere ever for a nonsequel, according to studio estimates Sunday. The film also scored overseas with $96.7 million in 57 countries where it began opening Wednesday, putting its worldwide total at $201 million. “Iron Man,” which won rave reviews from many critics, features Downey as billionaire arms designer Tony Stark, a boozy womanizer who builds a high-tech suit and becomes a superhero, mending his ways after he’s taken captive and sees firsthand the devastation his weapons cause. Despite the huge “Iron Man” opening, Hollywood’s overall business was down compared to the same weekend last year, when “Spider-Man 3″ had a record debut of $151.1 million. The top 12 movies took in $154.1 million, off 15 percent from a year ago.