This Weekend in Box Office History: Spider-Man Heralds the Superhero Summer Lead-Off, Avengers Assemble, & Gladiator Turns 20

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In a continuing look back at benchmark box office runs, our attention turns to the eighteenth weekend of the year — which has typically represented the first weekend of May, and the official start to summer movie season.

This weekend in the history of moviegoing is notable for its bevy of blockbusters — particularly over the last decade-and-a-half. In the late 20th century, it was common for summer’s perceived movie season to not truly begin until around Memorial Day. That began to change in a big way as the 2000s greeted us, though.

Sure, Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery became an instant comedy classic with its leggy theatrical run that began on the weekend of May 2 – 4, 1997. It wasn’t an instant event, though, opening in second place with $9.6 million (behind Breakdown‘s $12.3 million) before tapping out with a strong $53.9 million domestically, igniting two blockbuster sequels and countless pop culture references and quotable moments in the years to follow.

 

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