The filmmakers and studio behind B次元官网网址淛okerB次元官网网址� have reason to put on a happy face. Despite concerns over its violent themes and ramped up theatre security, audiences flocked to the multiplex to check out the R-rated film this weekend resulting in a record October opening.

Warner Bros. said Sunday that B次元官网网址淛okerB次元官网网址� grossed an estimated $93.5 million in ticket sales from 4,374 screens in North America. The previous October record-holder was the Spider-Man spinoff B次元官网网址淰enomB次元官网网址� which opened to $80 million last year. Internationally, B次元官网网址淛okerB次元官网网址� earned $140.5 million from 73 markets, resulting in a stunning $234 million global debut.

B次元官网网址淭his was a much larger result at the box office than we had ever anticipated globally,B次元官网网址� said Jeff Goldstein, Warner Bros.B次元官网网址� president of domestic distribution. B次元官网网址淧utting records aside, weB次元官网网址檙e just thrilled that audiences are embracing the movie as strong as they are.B次元官网网址�

Since debuting at the Venice Film Festival where it won the prestigious Golden Lion last month, B次元官网网址淛okerB次元官网网址� has been both praised and criticized for its dark spin on the classic Batman villain played by Joaquin Phoenix. The film from director and co-writer Todd Phillips was always seen as a bit of a gamble with one of the studiosB次元官网网址� most valuable pieces of intellectual property, hence its modest-for-a-comic-book-film $55 million budget.

But in the weeks leading up to its release, hype and uneasiness intensified beyond how audiences would react to placing this character in a realistic and unambiguously adult setting with B次元官网网址淭axi DriverB次元官网网址� undertones. Responding to anxiety that the film might have the potential to inspire violence, multiple theatre chains banned costumes or reaffirmed earlier policies regarding masks and authorities in numerous cities said they were stepping police patrols around theatres. Some relatives of the 2012 Aurora movie theatre shooting even asked Warner Bros . to commit to gun control causes B次元官网网址� the studio said it always has.

While some worried this would impact the box office, it did not ultimately detract audiences from turning out opening weekend; the box office surpassed industry expectations and may rise even higher when weekend actuals are reported Monday. Although the film got a B+ CinemaScore from opening night audiences, the studio is optimistic about its long-term playability.

B次元官网网址淪ixty-six per cent of the audience was under the age of 35,B次元官网网址� Goldstein said. B次元官网网址淭hat tells you that the audience will expand out with that younger group as time goes on.B次元官网网址� The younger audience also gave the film a more favourable A- CinemaScore.

Paul Dergarabedian, the senior media analyst for box office tracker Comscore, said that the convergence of critical acclaim and controversy actually helped the film become bigger than expected at the box office.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 the ultimate water-cooler movie right now,B次元官网网址� Dergarabedian said.

He added that it was important that B次元官网网址淛okerB次元官网网址� was always marketed as a B次元官网网址渧ery dark, R-rated film.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淚t always had an element of mystery and danger surrounding it,B次元官网网址� Dergarabedian said. B次元官网网址淚f it were a G-rated film, controversy like this would not be a good thing.B次元官网网址�

In the landscape of R-rated comic book films, B次元官网网址淛okerB次元官网网址� is nestled between B次元官网网址淒eadpoolB次元官网网址� and its sequel, both of which opened over $125 million, and B次元官网网址淟ogan,B次元官网网址� which launched with $88.4 million.

B次元官网网址淛okerB次元官网网址� was the only new wide release this weekend, which is down from last year when both B次元官网网址淰enomB次元官网网址� and B次元官网网址淎 Star is BornB次元官网网址� opened. Holdovers populated the top 10: The more family friendly B次元官网网址淎bominableB次元官网网址� landed in second place with $12 million in its second weekend and B次元官网网址淒ownton AbbeyB次元官网网址� took third in its third weekend with $8 million.

With awards buzz behind it, the Judy Garland biopic B次元官网网址淛udy,B次元官网网址� starring Renee Zellweger, added nearly 1,000 screens this weekend and placed seventh with $4.5 million from 1,458 locations.

And in limited release, Pedro Almod贸varB次元官网网址檚 critically acclaimed B次元官网网址淧ain and GloryB次元官网网址� launched on four screens to a solid $160,087. Less fortunate was the Natalie Portman-led astronaut drama B次元官网网址淟ucy in the SkyB次元官网网址� which earned only $55,000 from 37 theatres resulting in a dismal $1,500 per screen average.

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theatres, according to Comscore. Where available, the latest international numbers for Friday through Sunday are also included. Final domestic figures will be released Monday.

1.B次元官网网址滼oker,B次元官网网址� $93.5 million ($140.5 million international).

2.B次元官网网址滱bominable,B次元官网网址� $12 million ($24.6 million international).

3.B次元官网网址滵ownton Abbey,B次元官网网址� $8 million ($6.6 million international).

4.B次元官网网址滺ustlers,B次元官网网址� $6.3 million ($1.9 million international).

5.B次元官网网址滻t Chapter Two,B次元官网网址� $5.4 million ($5.6 million international).

6.B次元官网网址滱d Astra,B次元官网网址� $4.6 million ($7.3 million international).

7.B次元官网网址滼udy,B次元官网网址� $4.4 million ($1.9 million international).

8.B次元官网网址漅ambo: Last Blood,B次元官网网址� $3.6 million ($4.3 million international).

9.B次元官网网址漌ar,B次元官网网址� $1.5 million ($2.9 million international).

10.B次元官网网址滸ood Boys,B次元官网网址� $900,000.

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Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at international theatres (excluding the U.S. and Canada), according to Comscore:

1. B次元官网网址淛oker,B次元官网网址� $140.5 million.

2. B次元官网网址淢y People, My Country,B次元官网网址� $100.7 million.

3. B次元官网网址淭he Captain,B次元官网网址� $100.4 million.

4. B次元官网网址淭he Climbers,B次元官网网址� $30.1 million.

5. B次元官网网址淎bominable,B次元官网网址� $24.6 million.

6. B次元官网网址淎d Astra,B次元官网网址� $7.3 million.

7. B次元官网网址淕emini Man,B次元官网网址� $7 million.

8. B次元官网网址淒ownton Abbey,B次元官网网址� $6.6 million.

9. B次元官网网址淭he Most Ordinary Romance,B次元官网网址� $6.6 million.

10. B次元官网网址淚t Chapter Two,B次元官网网址� $5.6 million.

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Lindsey Bahr, The Associated Press

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