Jurassic World stomped over the competition in its weekend box office release. The Universal Pictures blockbuster took a bite out of Marvel Studios to become the highest-grossing domestic movie opening since The Avengers in 2012.
Although The Avengers held the top spot for three years, grossing $207.4 million in the first three days, Jurassic World broke the record with its $208.8 million earned during the weekend.
Marvel Studios is being a good sport about its Avengers losing the top spot — maybe because Jurassic World star Chris Pratt is also part of the Marvel Universe (known for his role in Guardians of the Galaxy).
Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige took to Twitter to congratulate Universal Pictures, in addition to film production company Legendary, director Colin Trevorrow, executive producer Steven Spielberg and producer Frank Marshall. Feige shared an image paying homage to the "new box office king."
Congrats Mr. Spielberg @UniversalPics @Legendary @LeDoctor @colintrevorrow and especially @prattprattpratt pic.twitter.com/5DxlDM8pgK
— Kevin Feige (@Kevfeige) June 16, 2015
Feige made it clear that he “especially” congratulates Pratt, who is pictured riding a T. rex with gun in hand. Both man and monster are shown looking down on the team of superheros — which includes the backs of Thor, Iron Man, Haweye, Black Widow and Captain American, as well as the Hulk in profile.
Illustrated by Marvel Studios renowned artist Andy Park, the T. rex is seen holding Thor's hammer, which has the superhero confused. The dinosaur, exposing all his deadly teeth, roars to show the Avengers that he's the king now.
Marvel was a really fun sport about its box office defeat, but this isn't the first time something like this has happened. Over the years, filmmakers have been known to publish one-page advertisements publicly congratulating their competition.
George Lucas congratulated James Cameron after Titanic beat Star Wars to become the highest-grossing movie of all time by pulling a full-page ad in Variety.
Spielberg published an open letter in 1997 after the special edition re-release of Star Wars beat ET's in domestic video rentals. The letter included artwork that showed ET putting a crown on R2D2. He also celebrated Lucas' victory in moving ahead of Jaws rentals by showing R2D2 hooking the shark on a fishing line.
It's nice to see the Hollywood tradition revived.
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