BACK IN BUSINESS: Iron Man marks a commercial rebound for Robert Downey Jr. -- PHOTO: AP

The tally far exceeded expectations of an opening in the US$70 million to US$80 million range for the three-day period beginning last Friday, studio figures issued on Sunday showed.

The film, produced by Marvel Studios, grossed about US$104.3 million since its debut on Thursday night, making it the second-best opening of all time for a non-sequel after Spider-Man, which earned US$114.8 million in its opening weekend six years ago.

Distributed by Paramount Pictures, Iron Man is the first self-financed production from Marvel Studios.

Previously, with films such as the Spider-Man and X-Men series, Marvel merely licensed its properties to one of the major studios, Columbia Pictures or 20th Century Fox, respectively, and received a royalty.

This time, it has much more exposure to any potential profits.

Costing about US$150 million to make and US$75 million to market, the film is being watched closely as the first major release of the summer movie season.

'It's the perfect way to start the new studio, to blast it off,' Marvel Studios chairman David Maisel told Reuters.

'We're fortunate to have this powerful Marvel brand which means something for moviegoers around the world.'

The weekend's only other new release, Made Of Honor, starring Patrick Dempsey, opened at No.2 with US$15.5 million for distributor Columbia Pictures.

Drawing largely favourable reviews, Iron Man, directed by Jon Favreau, stars Downey as billionaire industrialist and playboy Tony Stark, who wrestles with a mid-life crisis as he invents a high-tech suit of armour that transforms him into a superhero.

For Downey, Iron Man easily marks his biggest picture yet, at least in commercial terms.

His career floundered in the 1990s when he succumbed to drug addictions. His most recent films, such as Zodiac (2007), Fur (2006) and Good Night, And Good Luck (2005), were mostly acclaimed but largely flew under the mainstream radar.

Reuters