The first weekend in May has arrived, and with it the official start of 2014’s summer movie season.  Over the past two years this particular frame has hosted the two biggest domestic debuts of all time, with Marvel’s The Avengers and Iron Man 3.  Next to its Marvel brethren, The Amazing Spider-Man 2 may look a bit weak by comparison; but compared to 2012’s first The Amazing Spider-Man, the sequel looks like a home run.

The Amazing Spider-Man 2 opened at 4,234 locations yesterday and brought in an estimated $35.5 million, including $8.7 million from Thursday pm previews.  That’s just a bit lower than the $36.9 million ($10.2 million Thursday) that Captain America: The Winter Soldier earned in its debut last month.  Assuming the pattern holds, Amazing 2 should earn $94 million for its first three days.  Though a debut of $100 million is still technically possible, a failure to reach that goal will not in any way signal failure for the sequel.  Keep in mind that The Amazing Spider-Man brought in just $62 million for its first weekend in July 2012 and that its sequel has already earned over $155 million in limited international release.  We’ll have complete details tomorrow.