Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 Projected for Huge Opening Weekend Box Office

03/10/2017 07:11 pm EST

A month before Guardians of the Galaxy opened in August 2014, box office experts were predicting an opening between $65 million and $70 million; however, it blew away those predictions. It came out of the gate hot, setting a new Thursday night opening record for the year with a $11.2 million. By the of the weekend, it had grossed $94.3 million, breaking the all-time record for an August opening weekend.

Now that nobody is underestimating the box office power of Chris Pratt and a film featuring a talking plant and raccoon, it's going to be extremely difficult for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 to beat the much more loftier expectations being placed on it this time around.

And what are those expectations? With three months to go until its release, BoxOffice Pro is forecasting a $160 million opening weekend. Wow! If it can hit that mark, that would have Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 cracking the all-time top-ten opening weekends, pushing past Christopher Nolan's 2008 masterpiece The Dark Knight ($158 million). It would also put a smidge below 2012's The Dark Knight Rises ($160.8 million) and within range of last year's Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice ($166 million).

A $160 million opening would also be the fifth best MCU opening weekend, putting it $14 million behind 2013's Iron Man 3.

Furthermore, BoxOffice Pro predicts that Vol. 2 will finish its domestic run with $400 million, which is substantial higher that the $333 million the original did.

Set to the backdrop of 'Awesome Mixtape #2,' Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 continues the team's adventures as they traverse the outer reaches of the cosmos. The Guardians must fight to keep their newfound family together as they unravel the mysteries of Peter Quill's true parentage. Old foes become new allies and fan-favorite characters from the classic comics will come to our heroes' aid as the Marvel cinematic universe continues to expand.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is written and directed by James Gunn (Slither). The film marks the return of the original Guardians, including Chris Pratt (Jurassic World) as Peter Quill/Star-Lord; Zoe Saldana (Star Trek Into Darkness) as Gamora; Dave Bautista (Spectre) as Drax; Vin Diesel (Furious 7) as the voice of Groot; Bradley Cooper (American Sniper) as the voice of Rocket; Michael Rooker (Jumper) as Yondu; Karen Gillan (The Big Short) as Nebula; and Sean Gunn (Gilmore Girls) as Kraglin. New cast members include Pom Klementieff (Oldboy), Elizabeth Debicki (The Great Gatsby, Everest), Chris Sullivan (The Knick, The Drop) and Kurt Russell (The Hateful Eight, The Thing).

MORE: Important Yondu Clue In Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2 Trailer? / First Good Look At Taserface / James Gunn On Guardians of the Galaxy Working With The Avengers

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is scheduled to hit theaters on May 5, 2017.

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