Not only did Warner Bros.’ The Hangover Part II score the best opening of all time for a comedy at the domestic box office, it grossed the most of any R-rated film in its first five days.
“Hangover,” debuting last Thursday on the eve of the long Memorial Day weekend, earned $137.4 million through Monday. That beats the $134.3 million earned by Warner’s “The Matrix Reloaded” in its first five days.
The movie’s performance marks a milestone for Hollywood, proving that comedies can become summer event pics, and do as well as superhero franchises. In addition to breaking several key records, “Hangover” also nabbed the fourth-best opening ever for Memorial Day.
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Overseas, “Hangover” also soared, opening to $59 million from 40 countries — thee times higher than the first “Hangover” and bringing the sequel’s global bow to almost $200 million. “Hangover” grossed $16.4 million in the U.K., the best ever launch for a U.S. comedy, as well as the top opening of 2011.
Back in the U.S., “Matrix Reloaded” still retains the crown for top opening for an R-rated film when comparing weekend earnings for the two titles “Matrix Reloaded” grossed $91.8 million over the Friday-Sunday stretch, while “Hangover” grossed $86 million.
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It’s difficult to make exact comparisons since “Matrix Reloaded” didn’t open over Memorial Day. The movie debuted May 15, 2003, a Wednesday.
Whatever the case, “Hangover” is squarely No. 2 in terms of all-time best opening for an R-rated film.
All told, “Hangover” opened to nearly $200 million at the worldwide box office — not bad for a sequel that cost $80 million to produce. Warners financed the pic with Legendary Pictures.
So, could a third “Hangover” be on the way?
“We’ll see,” director Todd Phillips recently told the Associated Press. “It’s about audience’s desire to see it, and how well this one does, and if these guys are up for taking another trip and doing something (expletive) crazy.”
Said star Bradley Cooper, “We don’t want to get ahead of ourselves. There’s no rush.”
For now, he is impressed with the film’s success thus far. Asked by the AP if he feels pressure to top the success of the first film, Cooper said: “The pressure I felt was to make a great movie, and I believe we made a great movie. That’s the pressure. Whether the audience is going to like it or not, it’s out of our control. We’ve done everything we can to make a movie we’re proud of. I think it’s certainly better than the first movie.”