The Da Vinci Code Rakes Millions

***Khushboo*** · #1 05-23-2006, 01:45 AM

Sony faced numerous obstacles bringing The Da Vinci Code to the big screen but after all was said and done, the studio successfully launched its summer tentpole pic and captured $77.1M from North America, according to final studio figures, beating out most expectations. Attacking 3,735 theaters, the PG-13 film averaged a scorching $20,635 per location. Code is the much-anticipated film adaptation of the best-selling book by Dan Brown which has become a pop culture phenomenon since its publication. Many religious groups have encouraged people to not see the film, but the publicity may instead have just sparked more curiosity, especially from those who have not read the book. It carried a $125M pricetag.

Domestically, Code generated the thirteenth biggest Friday-to-Sunday opening ever and the second best bow for a non-franchise film after The Passion of the Christ which debuted to $83.8M

Worldwide, The Da Vinci Code was launched with one of the most aggressive distribution strategies ever planned invading over 12,000 theaters overseas. As a result, the film tallied a staggering $147M internationally putting its worldwide opening at a jaw-dropping $224M. That marked the second largest worldwide launch in history after the $253M of Star Wars Episode III this same weekend one year ago. With more appeal outside of North America than the Jedi flick, Code's overseas opening inched past Episode III to set a new international debut weekend record.