Springtime has given us The Amazing Spider-Man 2, Godzilla and X-Men Days of Future Past and Captain America: The Winter Soldier so far. All worthy contenders for the year’s box office top spot – but will Transformers: Age of Extinction – the summer’s first real blockbuster proper – blow all of those out of the water?

Transformers: Age of ExtinctionTransformers: Age of Extinction will dominate in China

Currently sitting atop the standings is The Lego Movie. Remember that? The hit animation has collected $255m domestically while Captain America fell $1m short of that. Then again, Cap’ did manage to pull in a humungous $708m compared to Lego’s $461m. 

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But Age of Extinction, starring Mark Wahlberg in a big cast shake up for the franchise, is set to do big, big business. Cowen & Co. analyst Doug Creutz – who saw big things for Gareth Edwards’ Godzilla, and was right – thinks the big-budget Transformers movie is in line for major ticket sales come June 27 when it’s unleashed on the American public. 

Creutz, in his May 1 report, predicted Paramount's Transformers will earn $350 million. But it’s within the international spectrum that Michael Bay’s popcorn feast will really pop the kernels. “It’s going to be huge and will probably set a box office record in China,” Viacom president and CEO Philippe Dauman predicted at the MoffettNathanson Media & Communications Summit. 

China’s importance to the franchise’s worldwide growth has not been underestimated – to improve its chances, a reality TV show was shown on CCTV’s Movie Channel giving contestants the chance to plau supporting roles in the movie. Parts of the film were shot in Hong Kong and multiple locations in mainland China, too. 

All signs are pointing to another member of the $1b club. 

More: Watch the 'Transformers: Age of Extinction' trailer