Weekend Box Office Roundup (May 18-20)

1. The Avengers (1)
$55.06 million ($457.08 million)
The Avengers didn't set a third-weekend box office record this past weekend, but the film did become the fastest to ever reach the $450 million mark, accomplishing the feat in 17 days. The previous record holder was The Dark Knight at 27 days. Yup, The Avengers smashed the old record by ten days. The movie now sets its sights on the $500 million mark, which Avatar holds the record for fewest days to reach. The Smurfs-in-space epic got to $500 million in 32 days. The Avengers will cross that mark sometime this week.

If The Avengers can hold off Men in Black III next weekend, the movie will have successfully vanquished four movies that were expected to be big box office hits. The Avengers has set just about every record it could, but I'm predicting that Will Smith's big screen return will capture next week's crown. Smith, Men in Black and a holiday weekend? That usually spells box office hit.

2. Battleship (N)

$25.30 million ($25.30 million)

I already used my "Avengers sinks Universal's Battleship" headline yesterday, but that basically sums everything up. Battleship was supposed to big a blockbuster, just like the Transformers movies were. Instead, it grossed less than John Carter and really doesn't have a chance at a long lifespan that will let it slowly keep making money.

3. The Dictator (N)

$17.42 million ($24.46 million)
The Dictator was originally supposed to open last Friday against Dark Shadows, but Paramount moved it to avoid that clash. It would've probably been better to just move the movie to another month. In fairness, there was no way any of these studios could have known that The Avengers would dominate the box office the way it has.

4. Dark Shadows (2)

$12.77 million ($50.91 million)

Poor reviews and failure at the box office — hopefully these two things are enough to convince Johnny Depp and Tim Burton that its time to end the bromance and start working with other people.

5. What to Expect When You're Expecting (N)

$10.50 million ($10.50 million)

I love Brooklyn Decker, but between What to Expect When You're Expecting and Battleship, her double-debut weekend didn't even match what The Avengers brought it during its third weekend. Decker doesn't currently have any future projects lined up, but I don't think this'll effect her career.

Next week's predictions:

1. Men in Black III

2. The Avengers

3. Battleship

4. Chernobyl Diaries

5. What to Expect When You're Expecting

SOURCE: Box Office Mojo