Despite its three-hour length and dark themes, New Line Cinema’s PG-13 epic “”The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring”” racked up $18.2 million in its Wednesday domestic bow.In 13 overseas territories, including the U.K., France and Germany, the film collected $11.5 million in its first day.The domestic start puts the pic on track to become the biggest December opener in history. Most industryites foresee a five-day total in the $70 million-$80 million range.
Pic, which opened Tuesday at midnight to sold-out theaters across the country, is playing on 5,700 screens and 3,359 theaters, with a strong average of $5,104 per engagement.Better than expected””These numbers well exceed our expectations,”” said New Line distrib chief David Tuckerman. The studio had estimated a $10 million take per day, or roughly $60 million for the Wednesday-Sunday frame.Warner Bros.’ “”Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone,”” the corporate cousin to which “”Rings”” often is compared, grossed $23 million on its first Friday in release on the way to a record $90.3 million three-day bow. “”Harry”” opened on an unprecedented 8,000-plus screens and a record 3,672 theaters.This story comes from Variety.