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'Transformers' Unearths $100M Debut At Box Office

(CBS SF/AP) - "Transformers: Age of Extinction" is ruling the box office.

The fourth installment in filmmaker Michael Bay's morphing robots series earned $100 million in North America during its opening weekend, making it the biggest debut for a movie this year, according to studio estimates Sunday. The Paramount blockbuster outperformed "Captain America: The Winter Soldier" and its $95 million inauguration in April.

"Age of Extinction" also earned $201.3 million from 37 international territories, specifically making $90 million in China, where it was partially filmed and co-produced by partners like the state-owned China Film Group and the China Movie Channel.

"With almost half of the international total coming from China, it shows how important that marketplace is to the worldwide box office," said Paul Dergarabedian, senior analyst for box-office tracker Rentrak. "This film has really capitalized on all fronts."

"Age of Extinction" stars Mark Wahlberg and Nicola Peltz as a human father-daughter duo who aid the shape-shifting robots from the Hasbro toy franchise. Besides the addition of a new human crew, the sequel also introduces the popular Transformers characters based on the likenesses of dinosaurs.

VIDEO: Jack Reynor & Nicola Peltz of "Transformers: Age of Extinction" Movie Talk About Saving Humanity with Franco Finn

"I think putting Mark Wahlberg front and center accomplished what we wanted to do, and that's re-energize the franchise," Paramount vice chairman Rob Moore said. "He appeals to audiences, both critically and as an action star."

Much of the film's special effects were produced at Industrial Light & Magic in San Francisco.

"Age of Extinction" topped the previous entry in the series, "Dark of the Moon," which took in $97.9 million during its opening weekend in 2011, but failed to eclipse the $108.9 million debut of the second film, "Revenge of the Fallen."

The first three "Transformers" films starred Shia LaBeouf as a teenager who befriends hulking alien robots Optimus Prime (voiced by Peter Cullen) and Bumblebee. The original 2007 film made $70.5 million and went on to domestically gross $319.2 million.

"Age of Extinction" was distantly followed at the North American box office by a trio of sophomore efforts: "22 Jump Street" in second place with $15.4 million; "How To Train Your Dragon 2" in third place with $13.1 million; and "Think Like a Man Too" in fourth place with $10.4 million.

"The 'Transformers' movies are known for being released around the Fourth of July, so this really ensures the film will have a strong second weekend," said Dergarabedian. "The only movie opening ahead of next weekend in wide release is the Melissa McCarthy comedy `Tammy' and that will be counter-programming to 'Transformers.'"

TM and†© Copyright 2014 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2014 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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