MUMBAI: Disney‘s The Avengers is expected to cross the $800 million mark Thursday and might gross $1 billion globally by Sunday or early next week. It is said that if it reaches the milestone on Sunday, its 19th day in release, it will be on par with Avatar and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 in terms of record-breaking speed.

Through Wednesday, the film directed by Joss Whedon had grossed $775.4 million worldwide, including a Wednesday take of $31.2 million. Last weekend, it scored the biggest domestic debut of all time with an intake of $207.4 million.

This weekend Avengers could well gross $100 million domestically and $100 million overseas. But those numbers could come in lower if the drop is bigger than expected.

The only new wide release of the weekend is Tim Burton‘s campy adaptation of the 1966-71 daytime soap Dark Shadows.The film that has Johnny Depp in the lead as a vampire is likely to open between the $35 million to $40 million range domestically. It also opens in 42 markets overseas, where Depp is a huge international star.

Dark Shadows could beat Avengers in certain territories but might not be able to match Avengers‘ overall weekend international gross. Burton‘s film got off to a strong start Wednesday in France, grossing roughly $770,000 to beat Avengers on its third Wednesday.

Made at a cost of $100 million, Dark Shadows should go well among women though interest has picked up among men in recent days.