Marvel’s Avengers movie has topped the UK box office on its debut weekend of release.
Joss Whedon’s superhero ensemble ends Battleship‘s reign at the top of the chart with a record-breaking £15.4 million opening.
Avengers posted the second-biggest four-day UK opening after Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix in 2007. It has already outperformed the entire box office runs of earlier Marvel films The Incredible Hulk (£8.2 million), Captain America (£9.5 million) and Thor (£14 million).
Salmon Fishing in the Yemen and The Hunger Games are non-movers at numbers two and three, while The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists! moves up two places to number six.
The Cabin in the Woods, produced by Whedon, completes the top five with £561,905.
Battleship tumbles down four places to number six. Rihanna’s movie debut has now grossed more than £7 million since opening in UK cinemas in April.
The UK box office top ten in full:
1. (-) Avengers Assemble – £15,778,074
2. (2) Salmon Fishing in the Yemen – £1,085,687
3. (3) The Hunger Games – £744,079
4. (6) The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists! – £663,775
5. (4) The Cabin in the Woods – £561,905
6. (2) Battleship – £501,283
7. (8) Mirror Mirror – £437,356
8. (5) Titanic – £366,749
9. (9) 21 Jump Street – £205,514
10. (7) Lockout – £169,133
Source: Rentrak