**Guardians Of The Galaxy **has become the latest Marvel movie to defy expectations, to the point where people should really stop being surprised. Still, the story of a much more obscure group of weirdoes, aliens, killers and thieves was considered a big gamble and is now a huge hit out of the gate, according to studio estimates.
With $94 million in the bank from America alone and a hefty $160 million plus haul worldwide, Guardians broke the record for the highest August US opening and joins the successful ranks of the studio’s films. It’s at this point we start talking sequel, but that’s already been decided for director James Gunn and co., so confident were Kevin Feige and the company’s executive team.
Luc Besson’s Scarlett Johansson-starring thriller Lucy was pushed to second place, losing 58 per cent for $18.2 million in its second weekend. That was enough to stay ahead of Guardians’ fellow new arrival, the James Brown biopic Get On Up, which launched in third with $14 million. That’s quite a step down for director Tate Taylor, who saw The Help open to more than $26 million back in 2011. Fourth was Hercules, which took a tumble and sagged more than 64 per cent for $10.7 million this weekend and $52.3 million in total Stateside so far. Dawn Of The Planet Of The Apes, on the other hand, continues to perform well, slipping a couple of places to fifth with $8.7 million this weekend.
**Planes: Fire & Rescue **was sixth with $6.4 million, while The Purge: Anarchy fell to seventh and $5.5 million. At eighth we find Sex Tape, which took in $3.5 million, with And So It Goes at ninth ($3.3 million) and A Most Wanted Man holding in 10th for $3.2 million.
To see a bunch of a-holes take down a hyper-intelligent erstwhile Avenger in the full chart listings, head to Box Office Mojo.