"Superman Returns" leapt in a single bound to the front of the box office in its first weekend, but the man of steel found the iron women of "The Devil Wears Prada" standing next in line with a dazzling debut.
Warner Bros Pictures' big-budget comic book adventure, starring newcomer Brandon Routh, generated US$52 million in receipts from Friday to Sunday, grossing US$84 million in its first five days, according to studio estimates released on Sunday.
"That is the largest five-day opening in Warner history," said Dan Fellman, president of Warner's domestic distribution.
But "Superman Returns" came in behind last year's pre-4th of July weekend winner, Paramount's "War of the Worlds," which pulled in US$100 million in its first five days.
"We are going to do about US$110 million" in the first seven days, Fellman added.
With superhero films all the rage in recent years, the US$200 million movie's launch bodes well for the studio's bid to rekindle a franchise that all but died in 1987 after the last "Superman" film flopped.
Warner, a unit of Time Warner Inc., needed a hit after the US$160 million maritime disaster movie "Poseidon" flopped at the box office this spring. Analysts predict a good Superman showing could lift Time Warner's sagging stock.
Superman opened nine days ahead of Disney's much-awaited "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest."
"The fact that it is a really great film, a crowd-pleaser, will hold it in good stead over the long run," said Paul Dergarabedian, president of box office tracker Exhibitor Relations.
The first big-screen adventure for the Man of Steel in 19 years, "Superman Returns" traces the comic-book hero's homecoming after a mysterious five-year absence. Played by newcomer Brandon Routh, Superman finds lady love Lois Lane (Kate Bosworth) has a son and a new man in her life, while archenemy Lex Luthor (Kevin Spacey) has hatched a plot to control the world.
'Devil' bumps 'Click'
"The Devil Wears Prada" by 20th Century Fox surprised the industry by racking up US$27 million in revenue and bumping last weekend's No 1 film, the Adam Sandler comedy "Click," from the second place expected in its second week.
"This is a great success story for a film that was basically thought of as counter programming move to Superman," said Dergarabedian.
A mostly female audience flocked to see Meryl Streep play a tyrannical fashion magazine editor who bullies her new assistant played by Anne Hathaway. Fashionistas can delight in the designer frocks from Chanel to Prada.
"Click," Sony Pictures' dark comedy about a father who gets a TV-like remote control for life, fell to third place this weekend with US$19 million for a 10-day tally to US$78 million.
"We are definitely on the road to being in that US$120 million plus range of Adam Sandler's movies," said Rory Bruer, Sony's president of domestic distribution.
"Cars", the latest Disney-Pixar animated movie, fell to fourth from second, grossing US$14 million in its fourth weekend.
The total revenue for "Cars" stands at US$182 million, making it the third biggest in the accumulated box office ranking, behind "X-Men: The Last Stand" with US$228 million after its sixth week and "The Da Vinci Code" with US$210 million after seven weeks.
