LOS ANGELES, April 6 (UPI) -- Buoyed by positive reviews and record-breaking advance-ticket sales, Captain America: The Winter Soldier has proven that Marvel's superhero formula is still working.
Top-lined by Chris Evans, Samuel L. Jackson and Scarlett Johansson, The Winter Soldier earned $96.2 million in its weekend debut, far outpacing the first Captain America film's $65 million opening.
The film also toppled the record for highest-grossing April premiere previously set by Fast Five, which earned $86.2 million in 2011.
Those numbers aren't bad for Marvel's Avengers franchise. The Winter Soldier is their fourth highest-grossing film after The Avengers, Iron Man 3 and Iron Man 2.
Marvel execs have already announced a third Captain America film, which will pick up where the Winter Soldier left off and begin shooting in 2015.
#CaptainAmerica3 slated to begin shooting in 2015, say Russo brothers. Will pick up where story left off in #CaptainAmerica2
— Reed Tucker (@reed_tucker) March 12, 2014[Washington Post]
