DON’T WORRY, THIS IS NOT A SPOILER...
Filipinos who have seen “Avengers: Infinity War” were left wondering why the end scene was so familiar. That is because it featured the Banaue Rice Terraces.
Even Filipinos who have not been to this place often referred to as the “Eighth Wonder of the World” know it because it has often been featured in Philippine History and Civics & Culture classes. The place is in Ifugao in the Caraga Administrative Region.
For the majority of moviegoers who stayed for the “Infinity War” post-credit scene, they would have read that the Philippines received a shoutout.
Indochina Productions shared the credits for the Philippines in its Facebook page.
“Super proud of our team who helped on the aerial unit for ‘Avengers: Infinity War’ in The Philippines,” the production company said. “Sorry that they did not put everyone’s name on the end credits, but we know who you are!”
Aside from Indochina Productions, also credited by the film are line producer Nicholas Simon, production manager Jeab Indagena, location manager Pat Bonnavanno and drone pilot Henry Bridges.
Meanwhile, “Infinity War” is off to a super start, nabbing the fourth biggest preview gross ever and earning $95 million in 43 countries ahead of what could be a record-breaking debut in North America.
Marvel Studios reported Friday that the crossover event “Infinity War” scooped up $39 million in the US from Thursday night previews, the highest preview title for a Marvel film and the fourth biggest preview gross ever.
The film earned more on a Thursday than “Avengers: Age of Ultron” ($27.6 million) and “Black Panther” ($25.2 million), but was behind “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” ($57 million), “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” ($45 million) and “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows-Part 2” ($43 million).
It also has so far earned $11.4 million in South Korea, $10 million in Australia and $9 million in the United Kingdom, as well as scoring the highest movie opening in countries including Brazil, the Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Vietnam and Chile. It opened in 21 countries on Wednesday and added 22 on Thursday.
Hollywood is watching to see if the film—featuring the Avengers and Guardians of the Galaxy—can smash the US opening weekend box-office record currently held by “Star Wars: The Force Awakens.” That film opened to $248 million in sales in its opening weekend in December 2015.
“Infinity War” is a two-part culmination of 10 years of story lines that began with Marvel Studios’ “Iron Man” in 2008. The second installment is due to be released in May 2019.
“Infinity War” reunites the Avengers gang and friends, including Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), Black Panther (Chadwick Boseman), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Captain America (Chris Evans), Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch), Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), Spider-Man (Tom Holland) and the Hulk (Mark Ruffalo) as they join forces with the Guardians of the Galaxy crew—including Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana and Bradley Cooper—to stop an evil intergalactic despot played by Josh Brolin. (JGA & AP)