'Amazing Spider-Man' captures audiences in its web

He wasn't exactly amazing, but Spider-Man remains pretty impressive.

The Amazing Spider-Man 2, the fifth film in the web slinger's 12-year stint on the big screen, swung to an easy win at theaters this weekend.

Spidey netted $92 million, according to studio estimates from box-office trackers Rentrak.

The debut met most analysts' stratospheric expectations, though it couldn't match the original, which bowed to $115 million in 2002, the first film to open above $100 million.

"It was a step down from previous installments in the esteemed franchise," says Ray Subers of Box Office Mojo.

Still, it was miles beyond its 2012 predecessor, which opened to $62 million on its way to $262 million overall. And "between Captain America, Spider-Man and X-Men in a few weeks, it's safe to say comic properties are hotter than ever in 2014," says Tim Briody, analyst for Box Office Prophets.

Comic books have become a summer staple, says Rentrak's Paul Dergarabedian. "A Marvel movie has kicked off every summer movie season since 2007."

Critics weren't particularly kind to the Andrew Garfield sequel: Just 54% of the nation's reviewers gave it a thumbs-up, according to Rotten Tomatoes. Fans were only slightly warmer; 75% liked the movie, the survey site says, while audiences gave it a collective B-plus, according to CinemaScore.

But distributor Sony Pictures was pleased with the debut, "With no direct action-film competition next week, we think we can expect a great (run) in the coming weeks," the studio said in a statement.

The comedy The Other Woman dropped to second place, taking in $14.2 million. The film has done $47.4 million in 10 days.

The drama Heaven Is for Real took third with $8.7 million, followed by Captain America: The Winter Soldier with $7.8 million.

The animated comedy Rio 2 rounded out the top five with $7.6 million.

Final figures are expected Monday.