THE AVENGERS Premieres Early and Strong at International Box Office; Second Highest Opening of All Time in Australia

Marvel is experimenting with the typical release pattern for their giant tentpole movies.  Thor premiered in dozens of foreign markets before the American release on May 2.  We got Captain America first for obvious reasons, but Marvel is heading back overseas to unveil The Avengers before the U.S. gets a hold of it.  The Avengers debuted in Australia, New Zealand, and Taiwan this Wednesday with a great $8 million start.  Per THR, most of that was grossed in Australia, where $6 million makes it the second highest opening day behind Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2.  Marvel will release The Avengers in over 40 international territories this weekend.  Expect more stellar results, since the all-star cast—Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Jeremy Renner, Scarlett Johansson, Samuel L. Jackson—and the colorful action bust the language barrier.  By the time it finally makes its way back to the States on May 4, The Avengers is expected to surpass $150 million domestic in the opening weekend.  This is far from our last report on the Avengers box office—while you wait for the next, hit the jump for a synopsis and links to recent coverage.

Official synopsis:

Marvel Studios presents in association with Paramount Pictures “Marvel’s The Avengers”–the Super Hero team up of a lifetime, featuring iconic Marvel Super Heroes Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Thor, Captain America, Hawkeye and Black Widow. When an unexpected enemy emerges that threatens global safety and security, Nick Fury, Director of the international peacekeeping agency known as S.H.I.E.L.D., finds himself in need of a team to pull the world back from the brink of disaster. Spanning the globe, a daring recruitment effort begins. Starring Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner and Samuel L. Jackson, and directed by Joss Whedon, “Marvel’s The Avengers” is based on the ever-popular Marvel comic book series “The Avengers,” first published in 1963 and a comics institution ever since. Prepare yourself for an exciting event movie, packed with action and spectacular special effects, when “Marvel’s The Avengers” assemble in summer 2012. In “Marvel’s The Avengers,” superheroes team up to pull the world back from the brink of disaster when an unexpected enemy threatens global security.

Click here for all things Avengers, or browse our recent coverage in the links below.

• Our previous recap of clips and featurettes
• Mondo posters for Black Widow and Hawkeye
• Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige talks the additional Avengers scene, the status of Ant-Man, and who owns Qucksilver and The Scarlet Witch
• A roundup of the first reviews of the film
• Tom Hiddleston writes an editorial in defense of superhero movies
• Avengers-inspired art on display at Gallery1988
• A new clip featuring Scarlett Johansson and Mark Ruffalo and a Black Widow featurette
• A new clip featuring Clark Gregg and Chris Evans