Disney-Marvel's "Thor: Ragnarok" is heading for a stellar opening weekend with $121 million at 4,080 North American locations -- the fourth best launch of 2017. The third Thor movie is also putting an emphatic end to the month-long box office slump that saw the worst October in a decade.
Among 2017 titles, its debut weekend trails only "Beauty and the Beast" at $174.8 million, "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2" at $146.5 million and "It" at $123.4 million. "Thor: Ragnarok" also officially launches the holiday season with a major bang.
Moviegoing has been battered this year by a subpar second half that's pulled down 2017 grosses by 5%, but it should rebound somewhat, thanks to "Thor: Ragnorak," Warner Bros.-DC Entertainment's "Justice League" (which opens Nov. 17) and Disney-Lucasfilm's "Star Wars: The Last Jedi" (opening Dec. 15).
"Thor: Ragnarok" has also taken in $306 million overseas, including $109 million in its international launch last week in 52% of foreign markets. It expanded to most other overseas territories this weekend.
- Source: Agency
