3rd Thor Movie Cleans Up With $121M

Thor: Ragnarok is a bright spot in an otherwise dismal fall for movies

By Newser Editors and Wire Services

Posted Nov 5, 2017 11:05 AM CST

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Thor: Ragnarok Wins Big With $121M Debut Weekend — This image released by Marvel Studios shows Chris Hemsworth, left, and the Hulk in a scene from, "Thor: Ragnarok." (Marvel Studios via AP)

Thor: Ragnarok thundered to one of the year's best box-office debuts, opening with an estimated $121 million in North American theaters, the AP reports. The robust debut for the third Thor movie was a welcome shot in the arm for Hollywood and theater owners, who have just suffered through a terrible October at the box office. Thor: Ragnarok also bucked the trend of diminishing returns for sequels. The 2011 Thor debuted with $65.7 million; 2013's Thor: The Dark World opened with $85.7 million.

The big opening cements the unlikely breakthrough of New Zealand director Taika Waititi, who shepherded the $180 million production to Marvel's best reviews since 2008's Iron Man. The weekend's other new nationwide release was the holiday-themed comedy sequel A Bad Mom's Christmas. It grossed $17 million over the weekend.

(More Thor stories.)

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