Registering an impressive $38.5 million in its second weekend, Disney’s “Thor: The Dark World” continued to remain in the forefront at the box office, despite Universal Pictures’ “The Best Man Holiday” debuting during the week with a strong opening.

Starring Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Tom Hiddleston, Christopher Eccleston and Anthony Hopkins, the eighth film from the famous Marvel Studios, however, witnessed a 55 percent drop in revenues compared to the first weekend, when it netted $86.1 million. But then, the Disney’s 3D sequel still managed to keep “The Best Man Holiday” at bay by retaining its number one spot at the box office.

While “Thor: The Dark World” has so far managed to earn $147 million in North America (according to sources, Marvel’s production expenses stood at $170 million), it’s yet to surpass the gross revenue registered by the original “Thor”, which earned $180 million in the region in 2011.

However, the film, directed by Malcolm D. Lee, who incidentally also directed the original movie, has already made a whopping $479.8 million in global income, thereby overtaking its predecessor’s international revenue of $449 million.

Strong Showing in China

Most of its worldwide revenues came from countries such as Russia, the U.K., and China, and it’s the income from the world’s biggest populated nation that has surprised the film circles. During the second week ending Nov. 8, “Thor: The Dark World” took in $94 million as international gross, which was only a 14 percent slump from the earlier week. The total global revenues during the first two weeks stood at $180.1 m.

While Russia brought in the maximum income during the opening weekend at $24.1 million, it was followed closely by the U.K. which netted $22.6 million. Then, it was China which got an incredible $19.6 million that’s much more than the income recorded by The Avengers.

During the opening week, “Thor: The Dark World” netted $5.6 million from a total of 270 IMAX screens internationally, of which China alone accounted for $3 million. And that helped the film to net a total of $327 million in the first 10 days of its global release, before going to touch $480 million this week.

Hunger Games Coming

However, the film’s box office window is likely come to an end soon, particularly with “Hunger Games: Catching Fire”, which is widely expected to make a grand debut, getting ready for release.

A sequel to “The Best Man” released in 1999, “The Best Man Holiday”, enjoying the second spot behind “Thor: The Dark World” with $30.6 million revenue, has witnessed overwhelming support from women, who accounted for 75 percent of the audience in North America.

“Jackson Presents: Bad Grandpa”, which was enjoying the runner-up spot during the last weekend, surprisingly plummeted to the fifth place with revenues of $7.7 million. While “Last Vegas” occupies the third place with $8.9 million, “Free Birds” is fourth with a $8.3 million income.

Other movies that find a place in the top 10 are: “Gravity” ($6.3 million), “Ender’s Game” ($6.2 million), “12 Years a Slave” ($4.7 million), “Captain Phillips” ($4.5 million), and “About Time” ($3.5 million).