FRIDAY 10 PM… REFRESH FOR LATEST… What a great Summer 2012 kick-off! Disney is looking at even stronger North American box office for Marvel’s The Avengers in Digital 3D, RealD and IMAX 3D than even rival studios thought.

The Friday opening number now is thought to be at least $70 million — and maybe as high as $74M because late shows were coming on strong. That includes $18.1M midnights.

So expect a domestic total of $160+M through Sunday for the #2 biggest ever weekend opening.

(It will pass Warner Bros’ The Dark Knight weekend total not adjusted for inflation or the 3D ticket premium.

But Warner Bros’ Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows Part 2 (also a 3D movie) holds both the Friday opening record of $91M and the first weekend record of $169M.)  Now the worldwide total is sure to be $500+M.

And, just to rub it in, the well-reviewed Avengers also received an ‘A+’ CinemaScore from audiences tonight. ”Freakin’ phenomenal,” one Hollywood studio mogul phoned me tonight. ”It has a real shot at the record,” another flick boss emailed me.  I just learned that the AMC theater chain is selling so many Avengers tickets today that its entire credit card processing system is delayed so moviegoers can’t charge the pic or concession snacks right away.

This, after AMC announced it ...... See Complete Article @ Deadline Hollywood