Worldwide box office: 'Transformers 4' crushes competition

Grossing US$301.3 million during its opening weekend, "Transformers: Age of Extinction" soared ahead of "How to Train Your Dragon 2" and "22 Jump Street" at the global box office for the weekend ending June 29, according to Rentrak.

Highly anticipated in spite of an onslaught of critical reviews, "Transformers: Age of Extinction" dominated the global box office this weekend and carried off the best opening of 2014, breaking the record set by "Captain America: The Winter Soldier."

With US$301.3 million worldwide, Michael Bay's big budget feature arrived far ahead of "How to Train Your Dragon 2" (US$31 million), "22 Jump Street" (US$25 million) and "Maleficent" (US$24 million). The fourth installment in the "Transformers" franchise was particularly successful in the US (US$100 million) and China (US$90 million), Rentrak reports.

At the US domestic box office, while Optimus Prime and his friends clearly claimed first place, "22 Jump Street" came in second ($15.4 million) ahead of "How to Train Your Dragon 2" ($13.1 million). The comedy "Think Like a Man Too," which topped the US box office during the previous weekend, fell into eighth place over the period ending June 29, grossing $10.4 million.