List of highest-grossing openings for films

The after is a list of the highest-grossing opening weekends for films. The list is dominated by recent films due to inflation, steadily increasing production and marketing budgets, and modern films opening on more screens.

Overview§

The after is a list of the highest-grossing opening weekends for films. The list is dominated by recent films due to inflation, steadily increasing production and marketing budgets, and modern films opening on more screens.

Biggest worldwide openings on record§

This list charts films the 50 biggest worldwide openings. Since many films do not open on Fridays in many markets, the 'opening' is taken to be the gross between the first day of release and the first Sunday after the movie's release. Figures before the year 2002 are not available. Since many American films do not open in all markets at the same time, the 'opening' gross varies depending on when it was released in the US-Canada market. For example, for films like Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice which opened in the US-Canada market and in most other leading markets during the same weekend, the 'opening' is the total gross of the film during that weekend. On the other hand, for films like Avengers: Age of Ultron and Captain America: Civil War which opened in several markets a week ahead of their respective releases in the US-Canada market, the 'opening' is the sum of the opening grosses in the markets where they were released first and the opening in the US-Canada market. In the latter case, the opening grosses from territories after the initial overseas opening are not included in the 'opening' of the film. If a film opens in a market after its release in the US-Canada market, that opening is not included in the 'opening' of the film in all cases.

Biggest openings in China§

Since many films do not open on Fridays in many markets (such as China), the 'opening' is taken to be the gross between the first day of release and the first Sunday after the movie's release.

Biggest opening day in the United States and Canada§

A list of the biggest opening days of release. Opening day grosses also include earnings from previews which have ranged from noon on the previous day to midnight, and can also include multiple days of previews.

Previous opening weekend record holders worldwide§

These are the films that, when first released, set the opening three-day weekend record after going into wide release.

Previous opening weekend record holders in the United States and Canada§

These are the films that, when first released, set the opening record in the United States and Canada.