'Transformers: Age of Extinction' thrives in $100 million debut

LOS ANGELES — “Transformers: Age of Extinction” is in no need of WD-40. The fourth installment of director Michael Bay’s franchise greased a creaky summer box office and became the first movie of 2014 to earn at least $100 million in the U.S. and Canada in its first weekend, according to estimates from its distributor.

Not counting for inflation, “Age of Extinction’s” $100 million opening bested the last film in the series, 2011’s “Transformers: Dark of the Moon,” which had a $97.9 million debut.