Marvel superhero spectacle "Avengers: Endgame" hauled in a record $60 million at U.S. and Canadian box offices on Thursday night, and distributor Walt Disney Co "cautiously" predicted an unprecedented $300 million weekend debut. That would smash the current opening-weekend domestic record of $258 million, set a year ago by predecessor "Avengers: Infinity War." 

COMMERCIAL BREAK
SCROLL TO CONTINUE READING

"As we are looking at levels of presales and grosses not seen before, we are cautiously projecting a three-day in the $300 (million) range," Disney said in an e-mail on Friday afternoon. The three-hour film starring Robert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth and Scarlett Johansson is the final chapter in a story told across 22 Marvel films. It picks up after "Infinity War," when many of Marvel`s big-screen superheroes appeared to turn to dust.

Watch Zee Business Live here:

In "Endgame," survivors including Iron Man, the Hulk and Black Widow plot to kill the supervillain Thanos and undo his damage. 

Thursday evening`s domestic sales topped the previous opening night record of $57 million set in 2015 by "Star Wars: The Force Awakens." 

"Endgame" began rolling out in international markets on Wednesday and has achieved records in China and several other countries. As of Friday morning, global ticket sales reached $305 million, Disney said.