Disney is well on its way to plundering the biggest opening weekend ever.
"Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest" grossed a record breaking $55.5 million on Friday, according to studio estimates. That's over $5 million ahead of the previous biggest day in B.O. history, $50 million for "Star Wars Episode III" on its opening Thursday in May of last year.
Tracking showed "Pirates" playing to all audience segments, which means matinees should be just as strong as late night shows. This puts the Johnny Depp starrer in with a very good shot of breaking "Spider-Man's" Fri-Sun opening weekend B.O. record of $114.8 million. That film made a comparatively modest $39.4 million on its opening Friday in May of 2002.
Based on Friday's gross alone, "Pirates" already has the fifth biggest opening weekend of 2006. It is certain to be the biggest three-day bow of the year, as it is already more than halfway toward besting "X-Men: the Last Stand's" $102.8 million.
"Pirates" debuted on 4,133 screens, beginning at midnight Thursday, the third widest opening ever, behind 2004's "Shrek 2" and "Spider-Man 2."
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