The summer movie season is less than a month old, but we’ve already learned a few valuable (and, for certain studios, financially painful) lessons about what audiences are looking for.

Here’s a hint: It’s not necessarily Johnny Depp, Cameron Diaz or Jennifer Lopez — and it’s certainly not Taylor Kitsch.

More superheroes equal more money. By the end of the week, “The Avengers” — which brings together Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), the Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), Captain America (Chris Evans), Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) and Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) — will have surpassed the total box office of the “Star Wars: A New Hope”; by the end of the month, it will have grossed over $500 million. It’s already No. 6 on the list of the biggest domestic blockbusters of all time.

The movie’s success isn’t entirely due to repeat business from Marvel Comics fans, either. Thanks to excellent word of mouth, “Avengers” has brought in moviegoers that might not ordinarily run out to the latest superhero extravaganza. Compare the “Avengers” take to last summer’s Marvel epics: “Captain America: The First Avenger” amassed just under $177 million in its entire run, while “Thor” sold $181 million worth of tickets.