Have you heard the news? The Avengers opened to $200.3 million this weekend in the US. Oh, wait. I’m sorry, make that $207.4 million. The Disney accountants forgot a stack movie stubs over here!

What’s that? Oh, right. I forgot to mention that the movie opened internationally already and wrestled about $447.4 million in 12 days. I know, so boring, right?

I imagine that an inter-office e-mail at Warner Bros. interrupted their pre-planning party for the first annual celebration of box-office trouncery (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Pt. 2 setting a debut record of $169.2 million last July) with something along the likes of this: “Dear WB execs, We have a Sirius problem. 4 kickass superheroes and 2 super-hott mildheroes just Weaslied their way to the top of Hollywarts. How do we Snape back from this?”

At least, that’s how I would break the news that a magical boy with a scar on his forehead and super annoying friends just got Demented by a comic book movie.

Does this surprise me? Not in the least. Why? Because look at the facts: Superheroes are generational. Harry Potter is generation-specific. Universal was able to cast a wide net by drawing from such a vast and rich universe of characters and stories that have been building for decades. Harry Potter is barley a decade old.

Credit is also due to Joss Whedon’s skill as a writer/director. The Avengers is a truly satisfying film with many great moments of high-stakes emotion suddenly cut short by unforgettable hilarity (the Galaga scene comes to mind off the top of my head). Additionally, the cast is equally fulfilling, with each actor pulling his or her weight. Whedon deftly gives ample time to each character to develop a strong arc throughout the movie. Most notably though, Tony Stark and Bruce Banner’s stories seemed the most well-balanced and satisfying. Sure, The Avengers is an action movie with lots of CGI, but as Wrath of the Titans proved earlier this spring, CGI isn’t everything. You need a strong story to really make a great film.

But what about 3d tickets and IMAX tickets, Christian? Those are more expensive and so they obviously grossed more! I suppose, random corner of my psyche that I argue with, that higher ticket prices do influence the bottom-line we are seeing in the headlines, but what really strikes me is that people were very willing to be spend this extra money when our economy is still “characteristically” abysmal. IMAX theaters sold out every one of their seats this weekend! At a theatre here in Orange, CA, an IMAX Avenger tickets would cost me anywhere from $16.50 – $18.50 depending on the time of day I choose. And you’re telling me every single IMAX ticket sold out?

Economists, you might want to take note.

As for me, seeing The Avengers in 2d just might not have been enough. But treating myself to an $18.50 IMAX ticket to experience it all over again might be. I’ll let you know after tomorrow.