WARNER Bros’ dark new film The Batman has soared to the top in theatres in North America to become the first film to exceed US$100 million (RM417 million) in its opening weekend this year, said industry analysts yesterday.

The latest in a growing collection of Batman movies – this one a particularly gloomy version, starring English actor Robert Pattinson – took in an estimated US$128.5 million for the Friday-through-Sunday period, reported Exhibitor Relations.

The movie cost an estimated US$200 million to produce.

Sony’s Spider-Man: No Way Home is the only other pandemic-era film to surpass the US$100 million mark in its opening weekend, said analysts. It logged a resounding US$260 million in ticket sales when it opened in December.

The Batman has the caped crusader tracking down a serial killer (Paul Dano) while battling crime, corruption and his own demons. It also stars Zoe Kravitz, John Turturro, Peter Sarsgaard, Andy Serkis and Colin Farrell.

Sony adventure film Uncharted, starring Tom Holland as an Indiana Jones-style treasure hunter, slipped from chart-topper to a distant second, taking in US$11 million – even as its domestic total passed US$100 million.

MGM’s buddy comedy Dog placed third, taking in US$6 million. Channing Tatum plays a war-wounded United States Army Ranger who agrees to drive Lulu, a dog injured while working with the military in Afghanistan, to her former handler’s funeral.

Persistently popular Spider-Man placed fourth, with US$4.4 million in domestic ticket sales in its 12th week out. Its international earnings are now just north of US$1 billion.

In fifth, down one spot from last week, is 20th Century’s murder mystery Death on the Nile, at US$2.7 million. It stars Kenneth Branagh (who also directs) as the quirky Belgian detective Hercule Poirot in this latest take on the 1937 Agatha Christie novel.

Rounding out the top 10 are:

Sing 2 (US$1.5 million)

Jackass Forever (US$1.4 million)

Cyrano (US$683,000)

Scream (US$570,000)

Marry Me (US$530,000) – AFP, March 7, 2022.