Entertainment News: the avengers

"The Avengers" continues to dominate the box office and the blockbuster action film "Battleship" didn't stand a chance against the super heroes.

The comic book-inspired film starring Robert Downey Jr., Scarlett Johansson, Chris Hemsworth, Chris Evans, Samuel L. Jackson, Jeremy Renner and Mark Ruffalo landed in the No. 1 spot over the weekend with an estimated $55.1 million domestically, according to the Associated Press. It is the third weekend the film has ended up in the top spot and the movie has earned an additional $56 million in international venues.

"Battleship" failed to sink "The Avengers" from its reign at the box office on Friday.

The marvel superhero film earned an estimated $15.3 million on Friday, for a total box office cume of $417.3 million domestically and over $1 billion worldwide. Last week, the movie broke more records, becoming the first film to earn $100 million in its second weekend in release.

Robert Downey Jr. is expected to earn about $50 million for his work in the current box office hit, Disney and Marvel's "The Avengers," a report says.

The 47-year-old actor reprises his role as Iron Man in the film, which was released in the United States last week and has made more than $1 billion worldwide, including at least $380 million domestically. Downey Jr. is "set for a highflying payday of about $50 million once box-office bonuses and backend compensation are factored in," The Hollywood Reporter said, quoting "multiple knowledgeable sources."

Even Johnny Depp's star power in "Dark Shadows" could not take down "The Avengers" at the box office this weekend.

The marvel superhero film earned an estimated $103.2 million, according to The Hollywood Reporter, to not only take the top spot for the weekend but break more records.

Some lucky fans got a sneak peak of 'The Avengers' at a screening in L.A., and OTRC caught up with the stars.

"The Avengers" continues to dominate the U.S. box office and has broken a new record.

The Disney and Marvel Studios blockbuster had the biggest three-day debut at the domestic box office, with $200.3 million earned since its Friday midnight opening, with higher-than-expected profits on Sunday that puts its estimated total at $207.4 million.

When "The Avengers" hits the big screen the spotlight might be on superheroes like Iron Man, Captain America, Thor and Hulk but according to Robert Downey Jr., it's Samuel L. Jackson's character of Nick Fury who has the tough job in the film.

"Nick is really the one who has the heavy heart and the really tough job in the story of 'The Avengers' and I really think that he was under utilized in the first two 'Iron Man' movies," Downey Jr. told OnTheRedCarpet.com correspondent George Pennacchio at the film's world premiere in Los Angeles on April 11. "I think the audience has really been hungry for him to be more front and center and that's what they get."

"The Avengers" film brings together some of Marvel's greatest superheroes on the silver screen but actor Chris Evans, who plays Captain America in the film, said that in the battle for the strongest of the group, it is really only a contest between two of the heroes.

"It's got to be a battle between Thor and The Hulk," OnTheRedCarpet.com correspondent George Pennacchio at the film's world premiere in Los Angeles on April 11. "It has to be. Thor is calling down lightning. Hulk is punching jets. I mean it's a tough argument to win."

"The Avengers" is a hit at the box office this weekend and set a new box office record for an opening weekend of a film.

The superhero movie reportedly earned an estimated $200.3 million over the weekend, the largest debut for a film, according to The Hollywood Reporter. It broke the record previously held by "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2," which opened in July 2011 with $169.2 million. It is the first film to reach the $200 million mark in three days at the box office.

Expectations were high for "The Avengers," but the film has already surpassed expectations.

The Marvel film grossed $80.5 million on Friday, making it the second best domestic opening day haul of all time. The movie was only second to last year's "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2," which earned $91.1 million in its first day.

Produced by Disney's Marvel Studios unit, "The Avengers" could still generate the biggest weekend opening of all time if it beats out "Deathly Hallows: Part 2," which earned $169.2 million.

Chris Hemsworth and Chris Evans climb back into their comic book hero uniforms as Thor and Captain America for "The Avengers." The actors opened up recently to OnTheRedCarpet.com about the joys and "nerve-wracking" moments behind shooting the blockbuster film.

"I think Joss [Whedon, the director] has read every comic book ever written so there's &he's certainly able to pull from that and orchestrate this mad team," Hemsworth told OnTheRedCarpet.com's George Pennacchio on April 21. "But it was a hell of a lot of fun."

Scarlett Johansson and Mark Ruffalo take on comic book heroes in "The Avengers" and while some of their close friends and family members may not have been the die-hard audience for the genre, they still found the film to be "an incredible ride."

"It's been surprising but my mom who is not exactly what you would call the typical fan person loved it and so did my stepfather who is not your typical stepfather fan... step man. He loved it too," Ruffalo told OnTheRedCarpet.com's George Pennacchio on April 21. "He doesn't like any violence or anything like that."

When Joss Whedon signed on to write and direct "The Avengers," he knew he had a tall order to fill.

The movie, distributed by Walt Disney Studios, has already made more than $300 million overseas. It opened in the United States at midnight on Friday, May 4, raking in at least an additional $18 million.

Soundgarden debuted the music video for "Live to Rise," the lead single from "The Avengers" soundtrack and the first track to be released by the grunge band in 15 years.

The music video features the band playing in a warehouse, in front of a glowing blue orb, which is cut with clips from the upcoming blockbuster film. The single, which is slated to play during the end credits of the Marvel film, was first released on April 17. It was available to download for free on iTunes during the first week after its release.