Warner Bros. and New Line Cinema’s hotly-anticipated Stephen King adaptation It has scared up an impressive $179 million as it terrorised audiences around the globe in its opening weekend.
Domestically, the Andy Muschietti-helmed film pulled in a whopping $117 million in North America – a record for the largest September opening (previously held by Hotel Transylvania 2 on $48.5 million) and largest horror opening (previously held by Paranormal Activity 3 on $52.6 million). It’s also the second-biggest R-rated opening of all time after Deadpool ($132.4 million) and the third biggest opening of the year after Beauty and the Beast ($174.8 million) and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 ($146.5 million).
In the UK, It pulled in $12.3 million, accounting for 82% of the market, while other territories include Russia ($6.7 million), Australia ($5.9 million) and Brazil ($5.6 million).
Given that It was produced on a budget of just $35 million, it will come as no surprise that the studio has already given the greenlight to a follow-up, which will catch up with the Losers’ Club as adults as they embark on a final showdown with Pennywise.
SEE ALSO: Read our reviews of It here, here and here
When children begin to disappear in the town of Derry, Maine, a group of young kids are faced with their biggest fears when they square off against an evil clown named Pennywise, whose history of murder and violence dates back for centuries.
It sees Andy Muschietti directing Bill Skarsgard (Hemlock Grove) as Pennywise alongside Jaeden Lieberher (St. Vincent), Finn Wolfhard (Stranger Things), Jack Dylan Grazer (Tales of Halloween), Wyatt Oleff (Guardians of the Galaxy), Chosen Jacobs (Cops and Robbers), Jeremy Ray Taylor (Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip), Owen Teague (Bloodline), Sophia Lillis (A Midsummer Night’s Dream) and Nicholas Hamilton (Captain Fantastic).
