According to Showbizdata.com, the latest installment of the "X-Men" franchise "X-Men: The Last Stand" grossed a staggering $44.5M on Friday. The worst reviewed of series, it’s the best opening day performance for the lucrative franchise, easily passing the $32M made by the previous film "X2: X-Men United."
For single day grosses, it ranks third all time, behind the $50M by "Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith" and the $44.8M by "Shrek 2." Each of those films went on to finish their respective three-day weekend with $108M. With Monday a national holiday, the third and final installment of the "X-Men" series could finish the four-day weekend with $135-150M, a new industry record for the holiday session.
Here’s the synopsis from the official site:
"In X-Men: The Last Stand, the final chapter in the "X-Men" motion picture trilogy, a "cure" for mutancy threatens to alter the course of history. For the first time, mutants have a choice: retain their uniqueness, though it isolates and alienates them, or give up their powers and become human. The opposing viewpoints of mutant leaders Charles Xavier, who preaches tolerance, and Magneto, who believes in the survival of the fittest, are put to the ultimate test – triggering the war to end all wars."
(References: Showbizdata.com, BoxOfficeMojo.com, BoxOfficeGuru.com)
