‘Age of Ultron’ on pace for record-setting weekend

Avengers: Age of Ultron has debuted with a Hulk-sized box office showing, and Disney says it’s headed toward a possible record-breaking weekend.

Disney said Friday that Joss Whedon’s Avengers sequel made $27.6 million (Dh101 million) in Thursday night showings and is on track for a North America opening of more than $200 million.

Dave Hollis is Disney’s head of distribution. He says the all-time weekend record set by The Avengers in 2012 with $207.4 million is “in sight.”

Age of Ultron is outpacing the first Avengers, which made $18.7 million in its opening night. It went on to become the third-highest grossing film of all time with $1.5 billion worldwide.

Age of Ultron appears poised to challenge that total. It has already made $287.3 million internationally.