‘Avengers’ Earns $178.4M Overseas Ahead Of Domestic Debut

First Published: April 29, 2012 12:53 PM EDT Credit: AP, Flynet, Disney, Disney, JFX, Capitol Records, BuzzFoto

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LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- The superhero saga “The Avengers” is living up to its blockbuster buzz with $178.4 million in overseas ticket sales days before it opens in U.S. theaters.

Domestic audiences seem to be in anticipation mode for “The Avengers,” which debuts Friday in the United States after launching in 39 other countries a week earlier.

Fans generally passed on a bunch of new flicks, leaving the ensemble comedy “Think Like a Man” at No. 1 domestically for the second-straight weekend with $18 million.

Four movies were bunched up for the No. 2 spot in the $11 million range: the animated comedy “The Pirates! Band of Misfits”; the romantic drama “The Lucky One”; the blockbuster “The Hunger Games”; and the romantic comedy “The Five-Year Engagement.”

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