UPDATE: The Marvel Studios superhero saga grossed $17.1m on its opening day through Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures International.

The Avengers debuted in Italy on $3.7m and took an adjusted $2.9m in France. It opened in 10 markets on Wednesday (25) and expands into 42 this weekend, representing approximately 70% of the international footprint.

As previously reported on Wednesday night the film scored the second biggest opening day in history in Australia where an adjusted $6.2m trails only the final Harry Potter instalment in the all-time pantheon.

It delivered the biggest opening day of all time in Taiwan on an adjusted $1.3m and did the same in the Philippines on $1.3m and New Zealand on an adjusted $800,000.

The UK and Germany are among the heavy-hitters on the runway this weekend. The Avengers will arrive in North America on May 4.