Comic book adventure "Iron Man" proved its mettle at the North America box office, kicking off the summer movie season with estimated weekend ticket sales of $100.75 million and marking an unlikely commercial rebound for its star, Robert Downey Jr.
The tally far exceeded expectations of an opening in the $70 million to $80 million range for the three-day period beginning Friday. All told, the movie grossed $104.25 million, counting receipts from Thursday evening previews, according to studio figures issued on Sunday.
"Iron Man's" U.S.-Canadian haul fell just shy of the $114.8 million grossed by "Spider-Man" in the first weekend of May 2002 -- a tally that stands as the biggest domestic opening ever for a non-sequel film.
Drawing largely favorable reviews, "Iron Man" stars Downey, 43, as billionaire industrialist and playboy Tony Stark, who wrestles with a mid-life crisis as he invents a high-tech suit of armor that transforms him into a superhero. The film was directed by Jon Favreau.
"Iron Man" easily marks Downey's biggest picture yet, at least in commercial terms. Best known for his Oscar-nominated turn as Charlie Chaplin in the 1992 biopic "Chaplin," his career floundered in the 1990s when he succumbed to drug addictions that ultimately landed him in prison for a year.
I just got to see it last night. It really is pretty good. There's not much i can say about it so i don't give any spoilers on what happens, but I absolutley loved the way he built the suit.
Yeah I'm wicked hyped because I remember watching the Iron Man cartoons when I was smaller. I can't wait to go see it with some friends. _________________
I think I've seen it like 20 times till now. I don't know what I have with this movie. Thank God I'm not mad yet. I like Robert Downey Jr. very much in this movie, I think they've done the best choice to bring him to play Tony Stark.
It's the best Marvel Movie of 2008. _________________
I saw this around the same week I saw Indiana Jones, which was the day it came out, also IMAX - Directors Hall. _________________
So America, with an open heart and an empty stomach, I say unto you in the words of my uncle: Allez Cuisine!
saw it when it came out. love it. one of my favorite movies of all time. and i just found that it comes out on DVD on September 30, im so excited for that _________________