a href="/myfiles/Images/2014/08/05/li03_big.jpg" title="A scene from "Guardians Of The Galaxy." — AP " A scene from "Guardians Of The Galaxy." — AP LOS ANGELES — "Guardians of the Galaxy" blasted past expectations at the weekend box office. Marvel Studios' cosmic romp starring Chris Pratt and Zoe Saldana as members of an intergalactic band of rebels earned $94 million in its debut weekend, according to studio estimates Sunday. Ahead of its Friday debut, box office analysts initially projected that the comic book adaptation would earn between $60 million and $75 million in North America. The launch gives "Guardians" the biggest opening for an August film, a record previously held by the $69.2 million debut of 2007's "The Bourne Ultimatum. "Guardians" also features Bradley Cooper and Vin Diesel voicing the computer-generated characters Rocket Raccoon and Groot. The movie originally was considered a risky proposition for Marvel and "Guardians" distributor Walt Disney Co. because it features more obscure characters from the Marvel universe and is set almost entirely in outer space. Despite any apprehension, Marvel was betting on "Guardians," written and directed by James Gunn, to be a blockbuster. The studio announced at Comic-Con in San Diego last month that a sequel already was set for release in 2017. Marvel's next films are the follow-up "The Avengers: Age of Ultron" and "Ant-Man" starring Paul Rudd. Both movies are coming in 2015. — AP
