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After a pitiful first quarter, the box office rebounded to record levels in April. Tallying $791 million, April 2011 was the top-grossing April ever and was up five percent from April 2010. With an estimated 101 million tickets sold, April 2011 was also the third highest-attended April on record, behind 2006 and 2004.

A week ahead of its domestic launch, Thor took advantage of the May Day holiday with a huge $89.2 million opening in 56 foreign markets. Including its early debut in Australia and its Monday grosses, the God of Thunder has already earned over $108 million overseas. In significantly fewer territories, domestic champ Fast Five also notched strong numbers prior to its full foreign rollout next weekend.

Smoking Fast and Furious's April opening record, Fast Five made off with a redline-busting $86.2 million at 3,644 locations over the weekend, beating its Sunday estimate by $2.6 million. The action sequel shot past Fast and Furious's $71 million start for a new franchise high, and it even saw smaller daily declines as the weekend progressed.

On Friday, Fast Five made off with an estimated $33.2 million at 3,644 locations, dominating the day and shooting past Fast and Furious's $30.6 million Friday start for a new franchise high (though there wasn't an improvement in attendance). It was a record for April and the second highest-grossing Friday launch outside of the summer or holiday seasons, behind Alice in Wonderland (2010)'s $40.8 million.

The 2011 box office started to show signs of recovery in April, and that's likely going to continue through May. Last May's total was on the low-end for the month ($905.4 million), while the highest-grossing May ever was in 2009 ($1.018 billion). That figure could be reachable with Fast Five holdover grosses, heavyweights Thor and Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides and the first six days of Kung Fu Panda 2 and The Hangover Part II. Ginnifer GoodwinKate HudsonJohn KrasinskiForest WhitakerCarlos MenciaJudd ApatowKristen Wiig

Friday update: Fast Five racked up $3.8 milllion in its midnight opening at 1,132 locations. That more than doubled the $1.8 million midnight launch of Fast and Furious and became distributor Universal Pictures' biggest midnight start ever.

Vin DieselPaul WalkerDwayne JohnsonGlenn CloseHayden Panettiere

True to its title, Insidious has gradually built up a solid tally since its April 1 launch, holding exceptionally well for a horror movie. The FilmDistrict release made $13.3 million on its opening weekend, which was good for a low-budget first release from a new distributor but below average for the supernatural horror genre. Normally, that would have led to a final gross of around $30 million, considering the front-loadedness of the genre, but Insidious has racked up $45 million and counting. James WanLeigh Whannell

At the foreign box office, Rio ruled for the third weekend in a row, while Fast Five and Thor were unleashed, aiming to gain some pre-summer traction and positive headlines prior to their domestic releases. Adam Sandler

Rio remained perched atop the box office over Easter weekend, edging out another strong start for a Tyler Perry movie and a solid beginning for Water for Elephants. Robert PattinsonReese Witherspoon

On Good Friday, Rio remained perched atop the box office, edging out the latest Tyler Perry movie. The animated comedy drew an estimated $10.8 million (around 55 percent of which from 3D presentations), and the holiday helped it increase four percent over its Friday opening last week. It made slightly less than How to Train Your Dragon's $11 million on Good Friday last year and was in the same range as Dr. Seuss' Horton Hears a Who! on Good Friday 2008, though its total trailed both titles. With $65.2 million in eight days, though, Rio extended its lead over Rango ($51 million) and Hop ($52 million) through the same point.

Atlas Shrugged: Part I was the top-grossing limited release of the weekend, generating $1.7 million at 299 single-screen locations.

Along with scoring the top opening weekend of 2011 domestically, Rio posted another huge weekend at the foreign box office. The Blue Sky Animation movie grossed $55.4 million, bringing its foreign total to $130.9 million, which moved it ahead of The Green Hornet as the year's highest-grossing movie overseas. Add in its solid domestic performance and Monday and Tuesday international grosses, and Rio has made just over $191 million worldwide.

On Friday, business wasn't quite what it was cracked up to be as the two new major releases, Rio and Scream 4, failed to excite moviegoers. Friday was still slightly up from the same day last year.

With the demographically-compatible pairing of Rio and Scream 4, this weekend is poised to be the first truly up weekend of the year. Rio lands on over 6,100 screens at 3,826 locations (including 2,591 venues showing it in 3D), while Scream 4 strikes around 4,400 screens at 3,305 locations (it grossed just over $1 million in its midnight opening). The same weekend last year offered relatively modest releases Kick-Ass and Death at a Funeral (2010). Anne HathawayJesse EisenbergNeve CampbellCourteney CoxRobert Redford

Hop took a bit of a dive in its second week, though it still easily led the box office once again. Among the new releases, Hanna topped the more heavily-marketed Arthur and Your Highness as well as sports drama Soul Surfer. Overall business was off nine percent from last year, when Clash of the Titans, Date Night and How to Train Your Dragon each ended up north of $30 million.Russell BrandNicolas Cage

A week ahead of its domestic debut, Rio reinvigorated the foreign box office by opening to $54.9 million from 11,714 screens in 72 countries. The 3D format contributed 71 percent of the box office from 57 percent of the screens.Adam SandlerZack Snyder

Hop led another ho-hum weekend at the box office as the four new nationwide releases were modest at best. The animated Easter comedy fell 43 percent to $21.3 million. With a $67.8 million tally in ten days, it continued to track closely to Rango at the same point. That is to say, it's been solid but not exceptional. Russell BrandJames FrancoNatalie Portman

After numerous weekends of consistent growth, things began to slow down for Jane Eyre and Win Win. Playing at 247 locations (up 67 from last weekend), Jane Eyre was down five percent to $1.16 million, while Win Win inched up a percent to $1.15 million at 226 locations (an increase of 77 over last weekend). The movies have so far made $5.15 million and $3.43 million, respectively, and their chances of reaching nationwide release dimmed.Michelle WilliamsKeanu ReevesVera FarmigaUma Thurman

Hop led another ho-hum weekend at the box office as the four new nationwide releases were modest at best. The animated Easter comedy pulled in an estimated $21.7 million, down 42 percent for a $68.2 million tally in ten days. It continued to track closely to Rango at the same point. That is to say, it's been solid but not exceptional.