Despite competition from the latest collaboration between one of the world's most recognizable directors and possibly the biggest star on the planet, Marvel's supermovie is estimated to have pulled in another $103.1 million, making it the first movie to pull in $100 million or more on its second weekend.  The second-weekend record was previously held by Avatar, which added $75.6 million. 

The film held far better than expected, declining just 50.3% from its massive debut.  We can attribute that strong showing to nigh-universal praise from both audiences and critics, as The Avengers is pretty much beloved already and has managed to avoid the steep decline that plagues so many blockbusters designed almost purely to open big.

This brings the ten-day domestic total of The Avengers up to a whopping $373.1 million, meaning it should become the year's biggest movie so far some time in the next week, surpassing The Hunger Games, which has racked up $386.9 million since its March debut.  Other domestic records the film just broke include fastest to both $300 million and $350 million.

But that's not all.  After less than two weeks, Marvel's big movie now ranks at number 18 on the all-time domestic list.  More importantly, it's international total of $628.9 million so far means that globally, The Avengers has crossed the big billion dollar mark, having earned an estimated 1.002 million worldwide.  That means it just passed The Dark Knight for number 11 on the all-time global grossers list.  Joss Whedon's superhero slugfest will shortly pass 2010's Alice in Wonderland for the number 10 spot.

On the subject of Tim Burton, his latest, Dark Shadows, represented the only new wide-release competition for The Avengers this week, and as far as competitions go, it wasn't much of one.  The revival of Dan Curtis's cultishly loved 1960s gothic soap opera boasts a formidable ensemble cast led by international movie star Johnny Depp, yet nobody particularly expected it to unseat The Avengers.  Even still, the feature's $28.8 million estimated opening fell below studio expectations, which had it pegged at closer to $35 million. 

As a rule, the second weekend in May is a tough release date, and Dark Shadows isn't based on an especially recognizable property.  Combined with an enthusiastic critical response and a sense of repetition from Burton and Depp, the film just couldn't make a huge impression in a market dominated by Cap, Iron Man, Thor, Black Widow, and Hulk.  Still, the director-star combo generally translates into healthy international business, so don't write of Dark Shadows just yet.

Marvel and Disney's domination this weekend meant slim pickings the other movies in the top ten, though two limited releases benefited and ended up on the list:  The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel and Girl in Progess, which showed up at number and 10, respectively.

Here's the top ten list for this weekend:

1. The Avengers                                        $103.1 million       $373.1 million

2. Dark Shadows                                       $28.8 million        New Release

3. Think Like a Man                                   $6.3 million         $81.9 million

4. The Hunger Games                                $4.4 million         $386.9 million

5. The Lucky One                                       $4.0 million         $53.7 million

6. The Pirates! Band of Misfits                   $3.2 million         $23.1 million

7. The Five-Year Engagement                    $3.1 million         $24.3 million

8. The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel             $2.6 million         $3.7 million

9. Chimpanzee                                           $1.6 million         $25.5 million

10. Girl in Progress                                    $1.3 million         New Release

The week to come sees wide releases for Sacha Baron Cohen's comedy The Dictator, as well as Universal and Hasbro's board game-turned-event movie, Battleship.