Transformers: Age of Extinction hits theaters this weekend, and it seems fans do not care whether it is the series’ former star Shia LaBeouf or Mark Wahlberg leading the army of robotic aliens in a fight to save mankind. The Paramount Pictures release is slated to earn over $100 million over its opening weekend.

Paramount will be debuting the fourth film in the Transformers franchise in 4,200 locations, which includes 353 IMAX theaters. Despite positive signs such as Fandango’s reports that the sequel represents 96 percent of its weekend ticket sales, Paramount is projecting to make slightly less than box office analysts are predicting. The studio is stating that they anticipate making $90 million to $100 million this weekend. Even if the film brings in that more conservative total, it will likely rank as the year’s biggest opening, beating Captain America: The Winter Soldier‘s $95 million.

“The market is wide open for a big hit and the brand recognition of the (Transformers) franchise is pretty staggering,” said Phil Contrino, BoxOffice.com’s vice president and chief analyst. “Even if it doesn’t win the summer or the year at the domestic box office, its overseas potential is huge and that’s the name of the game.”

Paramount will be opening Transformers: Age of Extinction in 37 markets, including South Korea, Australia, Russia, and China, the world’s second largest market for film.

Fans were initially concerned when trailers revealed that director Michael Bay replaced the goofishly likeable LaBeouf with the more mature Wahlberg, but that has not seemed to lessen their excitement for the upcoming film. According to several reviews, swapping its leading star was a definite improvement for the series.

“It was like adding the Rock to the ‘Fast and Furious’ franchise,” said Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst at Rentrak. “It reinvents it.”

The series’ third and most recent film, Transformers: Dark of the Moon, proved the dedication of the franchise’s fans when it opened to $97.8 million in 2011. The Transfomer films have brought in more than $2.6 billion at the global box office and $7 billion in merchandising to date.