UPDATED 5/7/17 (6:03 PM) – Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 2 has opened and easily took the top spot at the box office, however it fell ever so short of early opening weekend projects of $150 million. The film, the fifteenth in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, still delivered opening to a stellar $145 million over its first three days of domestic release. For context, that’s a deep jump from the predecessor’s $94 million opening take in August 2014, and furthermore, the fifth biggest opener for any MCU movie to date, trailing both Avengers films, Captain America: Civil War and Iron Man 3.

It’s also the second highest grossing opening weekend of the year thus far (trailing Beauty and the Beast; both film are Disney properties.) Thus far, Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 2 has earned $427 million worldwide. The summer movie season has started and has arrived in style.

EARLIER: Marvel Studios is kicking off the summer movie season is particularly stylish fashion, as Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 2 is angling to break the bank in its first weekend at the box office. The sequel to the 2014 blockbuster is projected to earn $150 million in its opening domestic frame. Projections range from $150-$170 million, while Disney (who holds Marvel as a subsidiary) is soft-balling the figure just slightly, suggesting the film will finish the weekend in the $140-$150 million range. The title has already opened in certain territories overseas and has already brought in a strong $167 million.

Thursday sneak previews saw $17 million in the bank for Guardians Vol. 2, which ranks as the second highest Marvel score behind last year’s Captain America: Civil War and 2015’s Avengers: Age of Ultron. If estimates hold, the film is slated to earn nearly $60 million in its first day of release (including Thursday night preview screenings). At its currently click, it will be curious to see how close Guardians gets to breaking the opening weekend record for 2017, currently the champ is Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, which raked in $174 million in its opening frame in March.

The first Guardians of the Galaxy scored an bulls-eye, netting $94 million in its opening frame in August 2014, on its ways to a staggering $330 million total at the domestic box office and an additional $440 million overseas. Like its predecessor, Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 2 comes from director James Gunn and stars Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista and features the voice talents of Bradley Cooper and Vin Diesel. For the second installment, Kurt Russell and Elizabeth Debicki join the fun.

We will stay tuned to where Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 2 lands as the weekend progresses.