‘Avengers: Age of Ultron’ posts estimated $21.3 million on Friday

“Avengers: Age of Ultron” held on for another powerhouse day in theaters, drawing an estimaged $21.3 million on Friday, according to BoxOfficeMojo.com, bringing the Buena Vista film’s total gross to just under $257 million after eight days in theaters.

Director Joss Whedon’s “Age of Ultron” surpassed the $250-million mark in eight days, making it third fastest to reach that figure, behind its predecessor, “Marvel’s The Avengers,” which got there in six days in 2012.

“The Dark Knight” also crossed $250 million in eight days in 2008, but with a slightly higher take than “Ultron” pulled in 4,276 theaters: $261.8 million for “Dark Knight” versus just under $257 million for “Ultron.”

Projections for the second-weekend gross put “Age of Ultron” in the neighborhood of $85 million, which would represent a drop of 56% over its opening weekend gross of $191.3 million in the U.S. and Canada.

The second entry in the Marvel superhero summit meeting of Iron Man, the Incredible Hulk, Captain America, Black Widow, Thor and Hawkeye, far surpassed Friday’s second-place finisher, Warner Bros.’ “Hot Pursuit.”

The female-led action comedy, starring Reese Witherspoon and Sofia Vergara and directed by Anne Fletcher, had a reported production budget of $35 million and took in an estimated $4.2 million on Friday in 3,003 theaters. Its opening weekend take has been projected in the $15-million to $20-million range.

In terms of critical response, “Hot Pursuit” scored a dismal 6% critic approval rating at RottenTomatoes.com, and 48% of movie goers initially reporting they liked it.

“Avengers: Age of Ultron,” on the other hand, has received 74% approval from critics and a whopping 89% “liked it” score at RottenTomatoes.

The rest of the Top 5 of BoxOfficeMojo’s highest estimated Friday grosses belong to Lionsgate’s romantic fantasy “The Age of Adaline,” with an estimated $1.53 million in 2,991 theaters, “Furious 7” ($1.4 million, 3,305 theaters) and “Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2” ($1.23 million, 3,548 theaters).

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