“Avengers: The Age of Ultron” exploded for a massive $201 million in its first weekend of release overseas, exceeding the original film’s first weekend haul by 44 percent and breaking records along the way.

Disney’s Marvel sequel, which opens Friday in the U.S., debuted at No. 1 in all 44 territories in which it rolled out this weekend, roughly 55 percent of its eventual international run. South Korea was the leading market with $28.2 million, followed by the U.K. with $27.3 million.

The IMAX returns set a record for the largest non-China international opening of all-time with $10.4 million, an eye-popping $60,000 per-screen average. IMAX also christened its first theater in Scandinavia, and did it with a bang. “Age of Ultron” opened The Vue’s Copenhagen theater with a huge $170,000.

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Joss Whedon returns as writer and director for “Age of Ultron,” as does the ensemble cast topped by Robert Downey Jr. (Iron Man), Chris Hemsworth (Thor), Mark Ruffalo (the Hulk), Chris Evans (Captain America), Scarlett Johansson (Black Widow) and Jeremy Renner (Hawkeye). Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Elizabeth Olsen join the cast as Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch.

Don Cheadle, James Spader and Samuel Jackson co-star in “Age of Ultron,” in which Earth’s mightiest heroes take on Ultron, Tony Stark’s artificial intelligence program gone rogue.

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Tracking has “Age of Ultron” debuting at between $190 million and $200 million in its U.S. debut, and analysts say it could do well over that when it opens on Friday. The first “Avengers” movie set the record for the biggest opening weekend ever with $207 million in 2012.