Avengers film sets new record at box office

The superhero movie Avengers Assemble has set a new record for the biggest-grossing opening weekend at the US box office, becoming the first film to break the $200m (£123m) mark.

The blockbuster, which brings together such famous comic book characters as The Hulk, Iron Man and Captain America, overtook the $169m (£104m) achieved by Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 in July 2011.

Avengers Assemble, which cost $220m to make, has also proved succesful in Britain, taking £15.8m in its first week – the biggest haul so far this year.