The first time the Avengers assembled, not only did they obliterate the invading aliens, they smashed the records, too.

$200.3 million, to be exact.

This year's biggest summer movie not only lived up to the hype, it exceeded the expectations in terms of gross domestic revenue. The movie showcasing Marvel Comics' best superheroes topped the record set last year by Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2, which bagged $166 million in its debut. The Avengers sets the record for the biggest opening revenue in the cinematic history of the Unite States.

"There aren't even words, to be honest. Every time we looked at the numbers, they just got bigger than what we could have hoped for," said Dave Hollis, Head of Distribution for Disney.

The amount raised the total earnings to $641.8 million in less than two weeks since it premiered. The movie already earned $151.5 million overseas.

The Avengers, developed by Marvel Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Co., features an ensemble cast of A-list actors, such as Robert Downey Jr. (as Iron Man), Chris Hemsworth (as Thor), Cris Evans (as Captain America), Mark Ruffalo (as The Hulk), Jeremy Renner (as Hawkeye), Scarlett Johansson (as Black Widow), and Samuel Jackson (as Nick Fury).

The film was penned and directed by Joss Whedon, who is best known as the creator of popular TV series Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Firefly.

The movie, which premiered on April 11, 2012, has received both critical and commercial success. It is the sixth part of the ongoing "Marvel Cinematic Universe", the movie adaptations of Marvel Comics' works.

The Avengers was a follow-up to previous commercially and critically successful Marvel Studio movies, which already showed some of the cast of the Avengers. These movies are: Iron Man (starring Downey Jr.), Thor (Hemsworth), Captain America (Evans), and The Incredible Hulk.

Before the Harry Potter finale held the record last year, another superhero movie, The Dark Knight, bagged the glory; it earned $158.4 million in its debut.