Avengers: Age of Ultron tops box office again

The Avengers sequel topped the domestic box office for the second weekend in a row with an estimated $77.2 million. The Joss Whedon directed sequel earned an estimated $77.2 million on its second weekend, bringing its domestic total to $312.6 million. This is nearly 60% drop from its opening weekend of $191.3 million. The first Avengers grossed $103.1 million on its second weekend in domestic release. Avengers: Age of Ultron has earned roughly $875 million worldwide.

"Everyone expected this to be number one two weeks in a row," says Rentrak analyst Paul Dergarabedian. "It's doing massive business internationally. The global gross is pushing on $1 billion, and has yet to open in two huge and vitally important global territories, China and Japan. It's the very definition of a summer popcorn movie," he added.

The action-comedy ‘Hot Pursuit’ took second place with earnings of $13.3 million in its debut. The film, which cost $35 million to make, follows an uptight cop who has to help protect a drug lord's wife. The movie is directed by Anne Fletcher and stars Sofia Vergara and Reese Witherspoon.

"I don't think anyone expected a massive debut," says Dergarabedian. "For comedies, it's important that critics say it's funny, so that was tough for Hot Pursuit. But what Warner Bros. was trying to do with this film was offer an alternative for female audiences. It should have a solid life on the small screen when it hits home video," he added.