‘Avengers: Infinity War’ holds strong

Globally, superhero film has grossed over $1.2 billion in 11 days

LOS ANGELES — After breaking opening weekend records, “Avengers: Infinity War” continued to dominate in its second weekend in theaters, but alternative programming like the romantic comedy “Overboard” also found an audience in what has historically been considered the “official” kick-off to the summer movie season.

The Walt Disney Co. said Sunday that “Avengers: Infinity War” will gross an estimated $112.5 million from North American theaters over the weekend, becoming the second highest grossing film in weekend two behind the $149.2 million of “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” and slightly ahead of “Black Panther” ($111.7 million).

Its 56 percent drop from its first weekend in theaters is less steep than the second weekend fall of “Avengers: Age of Ultron” (59.4 percent) or “Captain America: Civil War” (59.5 percent), but more than “Black Panther’s” uniquely soft 44.7 percent second weekend decline.

Globally, “Avengers: Infinity War” has now grossed over $1.2 billion and become the first film ever to cross the $1 billion mark in 11 days of release, It has yet to open in China.

Little new blockbuster competition appeared this weekend, although there were a handful of other options, such as “Overboard,” a very distant second to “Avengers,” but notable for a film its size.

MGM and Lionsgate’s Pantelion Films’ gender-swapped remake of Garry Marshall’s 1987 comedy, “Overboard” scored a better-than-expected $14.8 million from 1,623 theaters, surpassing its mid-teens production budget.

Its success was attributed to the star-power of Eugenio Derbez (“Instructions Not Included,” “How to be a Latin Lover”) who helped developed the bilingual remake with an American star (Anna Faris) to appeal to more than his Hispanic fan base. Eva Longoria also stars.

Critics weren’t won over by “Overboard,” but audiences gave it an A- CinemaScore.

In third place was “A Quiet Place,” grossing $159.9 million in five weeks in theaters, and in fourth was “I Feel Pretty,” up to $37.8 million in weekend three. “Rampage” rounded out the top five with $4.6 million, its domestic total now $84.8 million.

In sixth place, “Tully,” starring Charlize Theron, launched on 1,353 screens with $3.2 million.

ComScore senior media analyst Paul Dergarabedian said notable upcoming releases are “Deadpool 2” (May 18) and “Solo: A Star Wars Story” (May 25).