# The best part of the fact that The Avengers is about to make a Gazillion dollars is... **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 4, 2012, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-part-of-the-fact-that-the-avengers-is-about-to-make-a-gazillion-dollars-is/620869 "2012-05-04T13:40:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![lisiate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f05b48/32.png) [@lisiate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lisiate)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2012, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-part-of-the-fact-that-the-avengers-is-about-to-make-a-gazillion-dollars-is/620869/81 "2012-05-07T23:10:51Z")
> [@Lantern](#): > > Avengers [smashes](http://www.boxofficemojo.com/alltime/weekends/)opening weekend records and becomes the first film to take 200 million on its opening US weekend. It was always likely to get the record but 200 is still astonishing. Now we have to see how far it goes in the US all-time [record](http://www.boxofficemojo.com/alltime/domestic.htm). I think it will definitely beat Dark Knight Returns at 533. Avatar at 760 is probably too much. Titantic at 658 (padded by the recent re-release) is possible. Using those links for a bit of a guesstimate. The average percentage of first weekend take to total US revenue of the other 99 films on the list is 32.42%. If the Avengers sticks to that average it would end up grossing about $640 million - very close to Titanic. To match Avatar’s total gross the Avengers opening percentage to toal gross would have to be about 27% (about the same as Toy Story 3 for example) so it’s not impossible that the Avengers might overtake Avatar’s total gross. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2012, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-part-of-the-fact-that-the-avengers-is-about-to-make-a-gazillion-dollars-is/620869/82 "2012-05-07T23:18:05Z")
> [@KneadToKnow](#): > > Nitpick: 4 (_Hulk, Iron Man 2, Captain America, Thor_) Five. The first Iron Man movie introduced Phil Coulson and Nick Fury. And, of course, Iron Man. ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2012, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-part-of-the-fact-that-the-avengers-is-about-to-make-a-gazillion-dollars-is/620869/83 "2012-05-08T00:49:53Z")
He meant that Iron Man 2 is the sequel to Iron Man, so Avengers is only directly the sequel to IM2. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2012, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-part-of-the-fact-that-the-avengers-is-about-to-make-a-gazillion-dollars-is/620869/84 "2012-05-08T01:13:03Z")
> [@](#): > > Five. The first Iron Man movie introduced Phil Coulson and Nick Fury. And, of course, Iron Man. Phil? His first name’s “Agent”! ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2012, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-part-of-the-fact-that-the-avengers-is-about-to-make-a-gazillion-dollars-is/620869/85 "2012-05-08T01:23:35Z")
> [@cmkeller](#): > > He meant that Iron Man 2 is the sequel to Iron Man, so Avengers is only directly the sequel to IM2. This. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2012, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-part-of-the-fact-that-the-avengers-is-about-to-make-a-gazillion-dollars-is/620869/86 "2012-05-08T04:00:59Z")
Semi-relevant [Dork Tower](http://www.dorktower.com/) (May 7th). ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2012, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-part-of-the-fact-that-the-avengers-is-about-to-make-a-gazillion-dollars-is/620869/87 "2012-05-08T04:11:02Z")
> [@cmkeller](#): > > He meant that Iron Man 2 is the sequel to Iron Man, so Avengers is only directly the sequel to IM2. I guess that could be true…from a certain point of view. But I thought Iron Man had the best portrayal of Phil Coulson prior to the avengers, and was just a much better movie than IM2. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2012, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-part-of-the-fact-that-the-avengers-is-about-to-make-a-gazillion-dollars-is/620869/88 "2012-05-08T17:52:03Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Semi-relevant [Dork Tower](http://www.dorktower.com/) (May 7th). That’s such a classic fan boy fantasy. Does anyone really think that the exec that canned a low-rated Firefly 9 frigging years ago is thinking they should have kept it on the air now that Whedon has a successful movie out? Serenity didn’t make money either. I’m sure the exec is thinking “Oh, I guess he finally figured out how to do it”. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2012, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-part-of-the-fact-that-the-avengers-is-about-to-make-a-gazillion-dollars-is/620869/89 "2012-05-08T17:53:25Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > I’m sure the exec is thinking “Oh, I guess he finally figured out how to do it”. More likely, “Ha! If I hadn’t kicked that punk in his butt when I did, he never would be where he is today!” ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2012, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-part-of-the-fact-that-the-avengers-is-about-to-make-a-gazillion-dollars-is/620869/90 "2012-05-08T21:31:19Z")
Or even more likely, “Firefly? What’s that?”. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2012, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-part-of-the-fact-that-the-avengers-is-about-to-make-a-gazillion-dollars-is/620869/91 "2012-05-08T22:33:15Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > That’s such a classic fan boy fantasy. Does anyone really think that the exec that canned a low-rated Firefly 9 frigging years ago is thinking they should have kept it on the air now that Whedon has a successful movie out? Serenity didn’t make money either. I’m sure the exec is thinking “Oh, I guess he finally figured out how to do it”. The woman who canceled Firefly, Gail Berman, was formerly one of Whedon’s closest collaborators. She’s since gone on to found a media company that runs a second-rate competitior to TMZ and several other sites. The company also produces the show Alphas. ---
**Author:** ![genXmalcontent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8baadc/32.png) [@genXmalcontent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/genXmalcontent)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2012, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-part-of-the-fact-that-the-avengers-is-about-to-make-a-gazillion-dollars-is/620869/92 "2012-05-08T22:58:46Z")
> [@Justin\_Bailey](#): > > The studio hired Whedon to write Alien Resurrection after he wrote the scripts for Buffy and Toy Story, but before the latter’s Oscar nom and the former’s resurrection as a TV show. So he was just a regular old screenwriter (and not JOSS WHEDON) at the time. > > Normally, I don’t believe people who claim “they ruined my movie” because we don’t know how it would have turned out after drastic changes, but Whedon is right. They ruined the movie he wrote because Alien Resurrection the filmed movie is more or less the same as Alien Resurrection the Joss Whedon script, but suckier in several small (but key) ways. > > [http://www.cc2konline.com/component/content/1801?task=view](http://www.cc2konline.com/component/content/1801?task=view) Sorry but I have to disagree with the posted article. Typical fanboy defense IMO. The movie was awful way before the weird ending, and if you are going with the new creature chimera being part human and part alien, Whedon’s ending is less fitting. The character changes are too minor to make up for the terrible script, that was admitted to be pretty intact according to the author of the posted article. Whedon has this habit of blaming the dog for the smell of his farts. Resurrection was terrible. The director of Resurrection has a far better track record of quality films over Whedon. And is classier. I have yet to hear him blame Whedon for that weird turd. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2012, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-part-of-the-fact-that-the-avengers-is-about-to-make-a-gazillion-dollars-is/620869/93 "2012-05-09T01:24:52Z")
> [@Justin\_Bailey](#): > > The woman who canceled Firefly, Gail Berman, was formerly one of Whedon’s closest collaborators. She’s since gone on to found a media company that runs a second-rate competitior to TMZ and several other sites. > > The company also produces the show Alphas. Yeah, but prior to that she went on to be President of Entertainment for Fox and President of Paramount Pictures. Somehow I doubt she’s laying awake at night rethinking her choice to cancel Firefly. Frankly, I am rather surprised that the creator of “Dork Tower” didn’t know she was a female like you did. lol ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2012, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-part-of-the-fact-that-the-avengers-is-about-to-make-a-gazillion-dollars-is/620869/94 "2012-05-09T03:17:59Z")
I hate to say this dudes, but Firefly (at least on TV) wasn’t “all that and a side of fries”. it wasn’t until I was able to see it on dvd, uncut, in the proper order, etc, that I really appreciated it. Until then I watched a couple and said “Hmm, this has promise, but wtf?”. So, it’s not really meant for TV. ---
**Author:** ![Punoqllads](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d2c977/32.png) [@Punoqllads](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Punoqllads)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2012, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-part-of-the-fact-that-the-avengers-is-about-to-make-a-gazillion-dollars-is/620869/95 "2012-05-09T04:02:38Z")
Technically, **DrDeth** , that just shows that Fox screwed it up even more by shuffling / cutting / etc. episodes. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2012, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-part-of-the-fact-that-the-avengers-is-about-to-make-a-gazillion-dollars-is/620869/96 "2012-05-09T05:18:38Z")
> [@Punoqllads](#): > > Technically, **DrDeth** , that just shows that Fox screwed it up even more by shuffling / cutting / etc. episodes. True, but that’s the way TV (esp Fox) works. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2012, 11:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-part-of-the-fact-that-the-avengers-is-about-to-make-a-gazillion-dollars-is/620869/97 "2012-05-09T11:40:45Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > Yeah, but prior to that she went on to be President of Entertainment for Fox and President of Paramount Pictures. Somehow I doubt she’s laying awake at night rethinking her choice to cancel Firefly. Frankly, I am rather surprised that the creator of “Dork Tower” didn’t know she was a female like you did. lol Laying awake at night? Of course not. But I’ll bet she does regret it, especially since the slot went to burning off the last remaining episodes of **Fastlane** and **Boston Public** , two shows that the public barely remembers. Boston Public’s open slot was used the next season on **Skin** , a show that lasted three episodes and is best known for it’s catchphrase being by The Sports Guy (“His father is the DISTRICT ATTORNEY!”) in every column he wrote back then. If she knew then what she knows now, she would have absolutely let Firefly finish it’s full season. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2012, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-part-of-the-fact-that-the-avengers-is-about-to-make-a-gazillion-dollars-is/620869/98 "2012-05-09T11:53:50Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > True, but that’s the way TV (esp Fox) works. Really? Because I can’t think of any other serialized drama in the past 10 years where episodes were shown out of order. ---
**Author:** ![Lok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e8c25b/32.png) [@Lok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lok)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2012, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-part-of-the-fact-that-the-avengers-is-about-to-make-a-gazillion-dollars-is/620869/99 "2012-05-09T12:31:07Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > Really? Because I can’t think of any other serialized drama in the past 10 years where episodes were shown out of order. Castle, Bones, Eureka, off the top of my head. And I would bet a lot of others that you just didn’t realize because there were no really outstanding discrepancies to point it out to you. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2012, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-part-of-the-fact-that-the-avengers-is-about-to-make-a-gazillion-dollars-is/620869/100 "2012-05-09T12:47:25Z")
> [@Justin\_Bailey](#): > > Laying awake at night? Of course not. But I’ll bet she does regret it, especially since the slot went to burning off the last remaining episodes of **Fastlane** and **Boston Public** , two shows that the public barely remembers. Boston Public’s open slot was used the next season on **Skin** , a show that lasted three episodes and is best known for it’s catchphrase being by The Sports Guy (“His father is the DISTRICT ATTORNEY!”) in every column he wrote back then. > > If she knew then what she knows now, she would have absolutely let Firefly finish it’s full season. Maybe there were money considerations that made those fillers the more prudent choice. For Pete’s sake, she was made President of two different organizations shortly after the cancellation of Firefly. She was near the top of the television pyramid for a while. What great things do you imagine happening for her if she had kept Firefly on the air? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-part-of-the-fact-that-the-avengers-is-about-to-make-a-gazillion-dollars-is/620869.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-part-of-the-fact-that-the-avengers-is-about-to-make-a-gazillion-dollars-is/620869.md?page=6)