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Kim Hollis: Avengers: Age of Ultron debuted with $191.3 million this weekend, short of the record-setting total that the original Avengers set in 2012 with $207.4 million. It has international box office so far of $439 million, meaning that its global total is $627 million. What are your thoughts about the domestic opening weekend and the international performance of the film so far?

Matthew Huntley: Because the novelty and sense of awe surrounding the Marvel superhero movies is starting to wane, I didn't think Age of Ultron would top its predecessor as far as opening weekend figures goes, at least not domestically, so this isn't much of a surprise to me. Still, a near $200 million opening is nothing to get upset about, and I think it's an indication there's still a very high demand for this franchise and will be for years to come. Disney/Marvel might not get the bragging rights to say their latest installment broke opening records, but it's immensely successful, even amidst high expectations. On the other hand, they do get to brag that the movie's performance in foreign territories tops its predecessor, which is quite remarkable. All in all, I don't think anyone involved in the Avengers movies will be losing their job any time soon.

Jason Barney: I find it hard to agree with a term like “superhero fatigue” when we just witnessed the second largest opening for a film in the history of the business. It is weird starting off the discussion about a near $200 million plus earner (the second in the same franchise) as something that was expected or as though this was supposed to happen. Will the shine come off of Marvel’s superheroes at some point? Sure. However, right now they are on top of the world, approaching movie industry records set by themselves. That is the prism by which this discussion should flow.

Edwin Davies: I can't say I'm not disappointed that it didn't break the record set by the first film, something I predicted would happen last week as well as every week since the first Avengers opened. However, that doesn't mean that this is a disappointing result in a larger sense. This is still huge, and a sign of the strength of the franchise that it opened to within $20 million of the first film, something no film released since 2012 has achieved and, in all likelihood, no film will achieve in the near future, unless Marvels' Phase Three films ignite huge fervor for Infinity War. This is a case of a film shooting for the stars and landing on the moon.

Felix Quinonez: I don't think the fact that it didn't set a new opening weekend record is any cause to label this anything resembling a disappointment. This is an amazing opening gross. And its overseas performance is equally (if not more) impressive.

Michael Lynderey: This sub-$200 million, sub-par opening clearly proves that I was right when I said no one really wanted to see a sequel to The Avengers (the first film's plot lines were all resolved satisfactorily then, I thought). All (non-)kidding aside, this opening is notable because it indicates that a first weekend of $207 million, what the first film took in, is significant after all and likely isn't going to become a new normal for event films. It means Marvel's The Avengers will likely hold the opening weekend record for the rest of the decade, and quite possibly well beyond that. And it also puts Star Wars into heavy play to become the highest grossing movie of the year. I think a domestic total over $600 million is out of the question for Avengers 2, and the milestone it will be fighting for is $500 million. I'm thinking it'll come in under that, but they've surprised me before.

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