Marvel is counting the stacks of money raked in by their latest movie, “Guardians of the Galaxy”. We expect Marvel’s bank account to overflow at the end of its run, while some geeks considered this one of Marvel’s biggest gambles yet. The James Gunn directed pic racked in a ridiculous $94 million on its opening weekend, surpassing the expectations of Box Office analysts. Financial expects initially forecasted that the unlikely band of heroes will earn between $60 million and $75 million in North America. Boy did they prove them wrong! The film surpassed 2007’s “The Bourne Ultimatum” to become the top August debut of all time in North America. The Mat Damon starrer previously held the record with $69.3 million.

Check out the first “Guardians of the Galaxy” Trailer

'Guardians of the Galaxy' poster

‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ poster

“Guardians” also dominated the overseas market, adding $66.4 million, with a final worldwide take of approximately $160.4 million. Hoisting the flag for another huge Marvel victory, “Guardians” joins “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” for another box office win this year. “Guardians” is officially the third-highest movie opening of the year behind “Cap” and “Transformers: Age of Extinction“. Set in the same universe as “The Avengers” franchise, the film stars “Parks and Recreation” actor Chris Pratt as space pilot, thief, and all-round bad boy, Peter Quill, aka Star-Lord. After stealing a priceless, powerful orb, coveted by Lee Pace’s villainous Ronan – big, blue and encased entirely in body armour – Quill is forced to evade Ronan by reluctantly teaming up with a band of misfits. The unlikely ensemble consists of the mysterious Gamora (a green Zoe Saldana), Drax the Destroyer (a formidable Dave Bautista), Rocket (a talking racoon with an X Factor-worthy sob-story, voiced by Bradley Cooper) and Groot (Vin Diesel as a talking tree).

Let’s check out the rest of the top 5. “Guardians“ is followed by Scarlett Johansson’s,  “Lucy” with $18.2 million. The James Brown biopic “Get on Up” debuts to $14 million in third place, followed by Dwayne Johnson’s “Hercules” with $10.7 million. The top 5 is rounded up with director Matt Reeves’”Dawn of the Planet of the Apes” with $8.7 million.
Quick look at the top-grossing pictures in North American theaters, courtesy of Box Office Mojo

  1. “Guardians of the Galaxy” – $94 million
  2. “Lucy” – $18.2 million
  3. “Get on Up” – $14 million
  4. “Hercules” – $10.7 million
  5. “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes” – $8.7 million
  6. “Planes: Fire & Rescue” – $6.4 million
  7. “The Purge: Anarchy” – $5.6 million
  8. “Sex Tape” – $3.6 million
  9. “And So It Goes” – $ 3.3 million
  10. “A Most Wanted Man” – $ 3.3 million