StudioSystemNews.com — Disney’s Marvel superhero movie Captain America: The Winter Soldier soared to record-breaking heights at the weekend box office.
The film, which is the sequel to 2011?s Captain America: First Avenger and the ninth installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe earned a gripping $96.2 million. That qualifies as April’s biggest opening ever beating out the 2011 action film Fast & Furious 5 ($86.1 million). The number also tops this year’s The Lego Movie, which earned $69 million in February and Disney’s last Marvel superhero film 2013?s Thor: The Dark World, which premiered to an eye-popping 85.7 million.
The critics have been kind to The Winter Soldier, with 89 percent of reviewers recommending it. The film stars Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson and Anthony Mackie and features Robert Redford in a part that plays homage to his roles in 1970s thrillers such as Three Days of the Condor. Joe and Anthony Russo directed the movie, which cost $170 million to make and made its debuted in 3,938 theaters, many of which were 3D.
Its predecessor, Captain America: The First Avenger debuted to over $65 million and ultimately went on to earn $176.6 million.
Captain America is the latest to prosper from the 2012 comic book ensemble The Avengers, which earned $623 million in 2012 and has supported continuing tales from the all-star team, which includes Thor and Iron Man.