Box office

SUPERHEROES TRIUMPH AGAIN AT BOX OFFICE: The Avengers earned about as much in its third weekend as all three new releases combined, as the Disney/Marvel blockbuster raked in another $55.1 million. That’s the second-best third weekend ever behind Avatar’s $68.5 million. Universal’s Battleship opened in second place with a meager estimated $25.35 million. Paramount’s The Dictator was #3 with $17.4 million from 3,008 theaters, which brought the comedy's five-day total to $24.4 million, less than Borat ($26.5 million) or Bruno ($30.6 million) made over their first three days. What to Expect When You're Expecting bombed, grossing an anemic $10.5 million, That total put the Lionsgate release in fifth place behind Dark Shadows, which dropped 57% to $12.8 million in its second weekend, bringing the WB/Village Roadshow movie's 10-day total to a disappointing $50.9 million. (5/21a)