Disney production Avengers: Infinity War is on a record-breaking spree at the box office. The nineteenth film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has reportedly earned Rs 94.3 crores at the Indian box office in the opening weekend, with a gross total of Rs 120.9 crores.
Avengers: Infinity War is now the most commercially successful film in the first weekend in 2018, leaving behind the domestic productions Padmaavat and Baaghi 2. The movie, which was released over a long banking holiday weekend, has also become the highest Hollywood first weekend earner in India.
The film was released in 2,000 theatres in 2D, 3D and IMAX 3D formats, with half the screens allotted for the dubbed Hindi, Tamil and Telugu versions.
Up to one million tickets were sold on the BookMyShow ahead of the film’s release on April 28, making it second to Baahubali: The Conclusion (2017) in all-time advance ticket sales on the ticket-selling website.
Avengers: Infinity War has also broken the record for the biggest opening weekend earner of all time at the American and international box office despite not being released in China. It made $250 million at the US box office and another $380 million worldwide, until Sunday. Another Disney release, Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015), earned $247.9 million in the United States in its opening weekend.
Oh my gosh. Now it looks like #InfinityWar is beating Force Awakens for the biggest opening of all time - $250 million US and $630 million worldwide (WITHOUT China)! 😳😳😳😳🔥🧠🔥
— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) April 29, 2018
Avengers: Infinity War was one of 2018’s most anticipated releases. Directed by Anthony and Joe Russo, the fantasy action movie brings together nearly all of the superheroes associated with the Marvel Cinematic Universe, including Iron Man, Thor, Captain America, the Guardians of the Galaxy, Black Panther and Doctor Strange. The film’s untitled sequel, also directed by the Russos, will be released in 2019. Some of the older superheroes will be retired, it is rumoured, and a fresh pack will be introduced.
Before the film’s release, the internet was rife with pleas from Marvel Cinematic Universe fans for those who have seen the films earlier than others to not reveal spoilers.
Don’t spoil the movie for others the same way you wouldn’t want it spoiled for you. Marvel Studios' @Avengers: #InfinityWar is in theaters TONIGHT. #ThanosDemandsYourSilence pic.twitter.com/zo1PPh0ywx
— Marvel Entertainment (@Marvel) April 26, 2018
A range of spoilers, mostly false, began to circulate all over social media before the film’s release anyway, which included deaths of some of the franchise’s most beloved characters. Following the movie’s release, Twitter users began to post unrelated images as spoilers without providing a context. Those who have watched the movie will be able to connect the dots and figure out the message behind the memes.
Avengers: Infinity War Spoilers, but No Context. pic.twitter.com/7Hs8qDpd95
— Dan Rennie (@MrDanRennie) April 27, 2018
#InfinityWar spoilers but with no context pic.twitter.com/TGv5EfccAn
— kristy🌤 (@hunnylemon_) April 27, 2018
Here’s some infinity war spoilers without the context #infinitywar #avengers #infinitywarspoilers pic.twitter.com/hjWYSC1wTx
— DJ Koehler (@dj_koehler1) April 30, 2018
Indian Twitterati joined the fun and released homegrown versions.
Infinity War spoiler without context pic.twitter.com/3O1ojl4CbX
— Kanye Waste (@GhantaGuy) April 30, 2018
Infinity War spoiler without context pic.twitter.com/UDxAvJSKxg
— Kanye Waste (@GhantaGuy) April 30, 2018
Spoiler. #InfinityWar pic.twitter.com/5hVrmxiuM4
— Aniruddha Guha (@AniGuha) April 29, 2018
#AvengersInfinityWar spoiler with no context #InfinityWars pic.twitter.com/PFzK529m6k
— Autowaala (@Autowaala) April 28, 2018
The movie has inspired a barrage of memes and jokes focusing on key plot elements, such as an ending in which some of the most popular characters meet their demise if only temporarily, since they will resurface in sequels that will be churned out over the next few years.
Infinity war spoilers: I cried
— that rachel (@rhymewithrachel) April 30, 2018
“have you seen infinity war? are you okay?”
— maia (@amidalastark) April 30, 2018
me: pic.twitter.com/rKB4EiEhqn
#InfinityWar was even better the second time. Worth it alone for the audience reaction at the end. People were HEATED. Also, traumatized.
— Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) April 29, 2018
me @ marvel after watching infinity war pic.twitter.com/wB7fLSxwWp
— gaby 💫 IW SPOILERS (@lancemcIains) April 30, 2018
And here are some more, just for the ride.
me walking into the cinema to see infinity war vs walking out pic.twitter.com/Tm5vv3K8Yx
— dija seen iw (@comicparker) April 27, 2018
My reaction to the ending. #InfinityWar pic.twitter.com/q12gDV79Vo
— Lady Tsunade ✨✨ (@ASVP_Anicha) April 27, 2018
I'm living for all the #InfinityWar memes. It's the only way i can cope. pic.twitter.com/9ST0Y9xDxt
— PIA WAS ATTACKED BY IW (@Danish_Mermaid_) April 28, 2018
Negative reviews of Avengers: Infinity War were not spared.
I fixed that New Yorker review of Infinity War, now everyone can be happy: pic.twitter.com/u6DlVmHmWE
— popular comedy account “the pixelated boat” (@pixelatedboat) April 30, 2018
Meanwhile, a viral tweet comparing Avengers: Infinity War to a Paul Thomas Anderson movie was received with much ridicule.
I'm not a violent man and people should have their own opinions but the next person to compare Infinity War to a Paul Thomas Anderson movie gets a brick to head.
— David Fear (@davidlfear) April 24, 2018
"Infinity War is the closest thing to a Paul Thomas Anderson film you will see in the MCU." pic.twitter.com/WhVIjQ1yKn
— Scott Stamper (@DerfelBarada) April 24, 2018
Among some of the more bizarre memes is a surreal animated video that claims to be a “Hyderabadi” take on the Marvel mania.