MARVEL'S THE AVENGERS Becomes Highest-Grossing Disney Film of All Time
In recent years, Walt Disney Pictures has joined an elite few, studios with films that have reached a billion dollars. Many studios like 20th Century Fox and Paramount Pictures have had films like Avatar and Transformers: Dark Side of the Moon reach a billion dollars at the box office, but Disney has had more success in this arena than all of the other studios in Hollywood. Their first billion-dollar hit was 2006's Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest, starring Johnny Depp. Depp would also appear in two other billion-dollar Disney hits like Alice in Wonderland (2010) and Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (2011). In 2010, Disney/Pixar celebrated their first billion-dollar smash with the well-recieved Toy Story 3. But now, they finally have their highest-grossing film ever with Marvel's The Avengers! The massive superhero film has now joined this exclusive club with a current box office of $1.070 billion!
I can happily say this is well-deserved. The film is fantastic and the closest I've ever seen to a comic book literally coming to life. Joss Whedon exceeded all expectations for the film and I'm sure he's been getting a lot of phone calls from studios with offers to do their films. Years ago, this same man had been relegated to the role of script doctor, fixing films like Speed and Twister. Also, I hope now Disney will have more faith in Marvel and put out more Marvel films, while still maintaining the quality that these movies need. Next year will bring Iron Man 3 (directed by Shane Black) and Thor 2 (directed by Alan Taylor). 2014 will bring Captain America 2 which, reportedly, will be the first wholly Disney-promoted Marvel film. The Avengers, although owned by Disney, was credited to Paramount through a loophole in the contract. From comments made recently, it appears as though Edgar Wright is ready to make Ant-Man by the end of the year, after he finishes The World's End. Could that be the mysterious release date planted by Marvel in May 2014? What would you like to see from Disney/Marvel next?