Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice Film Earns Estimated $424.1 Million Million During Opening Weekend

 The stakes were high for the Warner Bros. superhero showdown, which cost 

$250 million to make and some $150 million to market. But the studio's bid to kick start a DC 

Comics universe to rival Marvel's empire fought against skepticism over Ben Affleck's casting as 

Batman and a barrage of bad reviews earlier in the week.Audiences gave the film a mediocre

 B CinemaScore, which suggested some moviegoers agreed with critics. But the allure of seeing

 two of the most iconic superheroes battle was enough to set a new record for the best

pre-summer debut.

BURBANK, Calif.-- Warner Bros. Pictures’ action adventure “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” had a winning opening weekend, earning an estimated worldwide box office total of $424.1 million—the top Super Hero movie opening of all time and the fourth-biggest industry opening of all time—and breaking numerous records domestically and internationally. The announcement was made today by Sue Kroll, President of Worldwide Marketing and Distribution, and Veronika Kwan Vandenberg, President of Worldwide Distribution, Warner Bros. Pictures.



The highly anticipated big-screen Super Hero battle earned $170.1 million at the domestic box office—the biggest Warner Bros. Pictures opening weekend ever—with the widest pre-May release (4,242 locations) and, at $27.7 million, the biggest Easter Thursday pre-show opening.

With the film opening day-and-date in 66 markets outside the U.S., the international box office take was an estimated $254 million over the weekend on an unprecedented 40,000+ screens. It marks Warner Bros.’ biggest opening of all time in China (at $57.3 million), Mexico and Brazil. It is also the second-largest overseas opening for a Warner Bros. film (after the final “Harry Potter” film).

Both domestically and internationally, “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” enjoyed the biggest March opening ever, the industry’s biggest opening of 2016, the biggest Easter weekend opening, the top opening of all time for a DC Comics film, and the highest opening for a Zack Snyder-directed film, a Ben Affleck film and a Henry Cavill film.

Globally, it also broke the IMAX opening record for Easter weekend with a worldwide gross of $36 million on 945 IMAX screens, the widest IMAX footprint to date. In North America, the film set a new box office record for an IMAX release outside the summer and Christmas play periods, with $18 million, and internationally set records with $18 million, which includes $7 million in China.

The film dominated Easter weekend with the kind of blockbuster performance usually reserved for Memorial Day or July 4th. In second was the Disney Animation hit "Zootopia," with $23.1 million in its fourth week of domestic release. The go-to family release of the season, it has earned nearly $700 million globally. Universal's "My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2," a sequel to the 2002 hit romantic comedy, debuted with $18.1 million.

If the estimate Sunday holds, "Batman v Superman" will be Warner Bros.' best opening ever, besting "Harry Potter and Deathly Hallows Part 2" ($169.2 million). It also supersedes previous Batman films like "The Dark Knight Rises" ($160.9 million) and "The Dark Knight" ($158.4 million).