Box Office: ‘Jurassic World’ has ‘Avengers’ records in sight after $82.8 million Friday

One thing is clear after “Jurassic World” opened to a staggering $82.8 million on Friday: America missed seeing dinosaurs on the big screen.

The Universal Studios release completely blew threw pre-release expectations to become the no. 3 single day gross of all-time behind “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Pt. 2's” $91 million and “Avengers: Age of Ultron” which took in $84.4 million last month.  Now “Jurassic World” has a clear shot at besting “Age of Ultron's” three-day take of $191.2 million, the no. 2 opening weekend ever.  Some pundits even think it can surpass the current champ, “Marvel's The Avengers,” which earned $207 million three years ago.

Unlike other releases this summer which have disappointed compared to pre-release polling, the performance of the Colin Trevorrow directed action flick is jaw-dropping.  At best, many believed “Jurassic World “would earn between $140-150 million over its opening frame. The idea that it may earn more in one weekend than what “Jurassic World III” took in overall in 2001 ($181.1 million) is simply stunning.

As for the rest of the movies at the box office, Melissa McCarthy's “Spy” held on as well as it could dropping to no. 2 for another $4.7 million and $45.7 million overall.  The 20th Century Fox comedy should make it past the $100 million mark, but it's not the smash many thought it would be.

“San Andreas” was still shaking in third with $3.1 million and $111.4 million to date.  The Warner Bros. release will cross $300 million worldwide sometime today.

“Insidious Chapter 3” showed some resilience for a horror sequel by taking the fourth slot with another $2.6 million and $32.7 million in just eight days.

Universal Pictures other summer blockbuster, “Pitch Perfect 2,” rounded out the top five earning $2 million for a domestic cume of $166.7 million.

Look for box office updates all weekend on HitFix.

For more movie industry insight follow @HitFixGregory.

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