Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice makes over $424m in its opening weekend [update]

Update: This article has been updated to include additional information for South African cinemas.

Critics have hammered the latest DC Comics movie, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, in their reviews but it looks like audiences don’t care about that. The movie is setting box office records around the world, earning an estimated worldwide box office total of US$424.1-million in its opening weekend, making it the top superhero genre movie opening of all time, according to Warner Bros. Pictures, that is.

In the process, the movie also became the fourth-biggest industry opening of all time. The announcements were made today by Sue Kroll, President of Worldwide Marketing and Distribution, and Veronika Kwan Vandenberg, President of Worldwide Distribution, Warner Bros. Pictures.

The record-breaking movie is defying the negative reviews it has received since release. According to the studio, the film has earned US$170.1-million at the domestic box office, the biggest Warner Bros. Pictures opening weekend ever.

Read more: Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice spoiler-free review: a big piece of plotted swiss cheese

Outside of the US, in the 66 markets Batman v Superman opened in, the film has made an estimated US$254-million and has screened in over 40 000 screens. In China, Mexico and Brazil, the film saw record openings. It saw its biggest opening of all time in China at $57.3 million.

In South Africa, the movie grossed more than R16 million and was screened in 137 screens all around the country. This makes the film the biggest Warner Bros. opening of all time in South Africa.

The movie has further broken IMAX opening records, grossing US$36-million on 945 IMAX screens globally.

Kroll went on to further state that: “We’re so excited by the fantastic global success of this film. Anticipation has been building with movie fans everywhere for ‘Batman v Superman’ and the buzz has been nothing short of amazing.”

When making decisions on future DC Comics movies, will Warner Brothers look at critic’s reviews, or just the amount of money Batman v Superman has made?