Jurassic World Opens Huge

The reviews range from glowing to scathing, but judging by the first day’s receipts, Jurassic World could be the year’s top-grossing film. Via the Hollywood Reporter:

Universal’s Jurassic World is devouring everything in its path at the Friday box office for a projected North American debut of $155 million-plus — one of the best showings in recent times and the biggest three-day opening ever for the month of June. The $150 million tentpole, rescuing the dinosaur franchise from near-extinction, is expected to earn $65 million-plus on Friday alone. That includes $18.5 million from Thursday evening previews, the biggest late-night showing ever for Universal after Furious 7 ($15.8 million). 

If it indeed crosses $150 million domestically, Jurassic World would best Universal’s Furious 7 ($147.2 million) to mark the second-best opening of the year to date behind Disney and Marvel’s Avengers: Age of Ultron ($191.3 million). The current record-holder for June is Man of Steel, which debuted to $116.6 million. Jurassic World, playing in 4,273 theaters domestically and opening 22 years after Steven Spielberg’s Jurassic Park hit theaters, is getting the widest release ever for a Universal title. Overseas, the fourth installment is rolling out across the world, grossing north of $21 million from its first eight markets on Wednesday, including $17.2 million in China.

According to audience exit polls, 73% are rating the film as a “recommend.”