All the records 'Avengers: Infinity War' smashed (not that Deadpool is counting)

If you’re like most movie fans, you likely spent part of this past weekend at the multiplex catching up with Avengers: Infinity War, Marvel’s latest — and greatest, at least in terms of roster size — entry in its ongoing cinematic universe. Bringing together 40-plus characters from 17 prior sagas spanning the past decade, the studio’s epic extravaganza has long been the box-office film to beat this summer. And judging by its first weekend, Joe and Anthony Russo’s all-star effort should have no trouble living up to those expectations, after a record-setting opening three days that even earned Marvel’s superteam kudos from Ryan Reynolds’s wisecracking (and apparent Avengers reject) Deadpool.

Proving that audiences are far from fatigued with Marvel’s superheroes, Avengers: Infinity War kicked off its theatrical run by smashing several records. Its $258.2 million haul in North America leapfrogged the previous chart-topper, Star Wars: The Force Awakens ($248 million). Its cumulative global total of $640.9 million was higher than prior kingpin The Fate of the Furious ($542). And while Infinity War can lay claim to having only the second-biggest overseas debut ever — its $382.7 million placed behind The Fate of the Furious‘s $443 million — that’s only because Infinity War, unlike Vin Diesel’s automotive series, didn’t immediately premiere in China.

Furthermore, Infinity War‘s tally is tops when it comes to superhero films; the blockbuster team-up now holds the record for the biggest Saturday and Sunday in American movie history; and it was the biggest debut ever in numerous parts of the world, including South Korea, Mexico, Brazil , the Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia.

In other words, Infinity War was huge. And it should have the box-office largely to itself for the next three weeks, until the next studio tentpole arrives in the form of another Marvel property: Deadpool 2. In typically gracious fashion, that movie’s star Ryan Reynolds tweeted out congratulations to the MCU gang for their weekend triumph — while also posting the rejection letter Tony Stark supposedly sent the Merc With a Mouth with regards to his request to join Earth’s Mightiest Heroes.

Deadpool may be bitter about it, but Avengers: Infinity War has once again proved that the MCU has no equals in the current cinematic arena. The film is in theaters now. But you already knew that.

Read more from Yahoo Entertainment:

• ‘Avengers: Infinity War’: Everything you need to know about the end-credits scenes and all those Easter eggs (spoilers)

• Where’s Hawkeye? ‘Avengers: Infinity War’ finally provides some answers (spoilers)

• Don’t hold your breath for a Falcon solo film: Anthony Mackie has different post-‘Avengers’ plans
  

• ‘Black Panther’ star Letitia Wright proudly owns her Disney princess status
  

• Original ‘Avengers’ writer explains his dramatically different version

Watch: How Avengers: Infinity War filmmakers went to insane extremes to protect film’s secrets: