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Shrek sets record with $122m
21/05/2007 13:01 - (SA)
David Germain
Los Angeles - The big green ogre keeps getting bigger.
Shrek the Third took in $122m in its first weekend, breaking the franchise's own record for best debut ever for an animated film, according to studio estimates on Sunday.
The latest adventure of the ogre shot past 2004's Shrek 2, the previous record-holder for animated openings with $108m.
Produced by DreamWorks Animation and distributed by Paramount, Shrek the Third was the third-biggest debut ever, coming in behind the $151.1m haul of this month's Spider-Man 3 and the $135.6m gross of last summer's Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest.
'Beyond our expectations'
Executives at DreamWorks Animation and Paramount had expected Shrek the Third to open more in range with the debut of Shrek 2.
"The opening was significantly beyond our expectations," said Anne Globe, head of marketing for DreamWorks Animation. "The movie played much more like an all-audience movie. It played broadly to general and family audiences."
Adding in $900 000 the movie grossed during previews on Thursday night, Shrek the Third has taken in $122.9m.
Factoring in higher admission prices, Shrek the Third also drew more fans - 18 million - than did Shrek 2, which pulled in 17.4 million people over opening weekend.
Shrek the Third also took in $13.3m in four overseas markets: Russia, Ukraine, Romania and the Philippines. The film rolls out to most major countries between mid-June and early July.
Diaz and Timberlake
The movie reunites Mike Myers, who provides the voice of the lovably gruff ogre, and co-stars Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz and Antonio Banderas. Justin Timberlake joins the cast, providing the voice of the future King Arthur, an awkward teen Shrek grooms to rule the land.
After ruling the box office for two weekends, Sony's Spider-Man 3 slipped to second place with $28.5m, raising its domestic total to $281.9m. Worldwide, Spider-Man 3 has taken in $747m.
Shrek the Third could have a short reign as the No 1 movie.
On Friday, Disney releases Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End, with Johnny Depp returning as woozy buccaneer Jack Sparrow in the franchise's third instalment.
Box-office analysts say At World's End has a shot at breaking the debut record of Spider-Man 3, though it faces stiff competition from the Spidey sequel and Shrek the Third.
At World's End also runs nearly three hours, limiting the number of screenings theatres can fit in each day.
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South Africa
