'Batman V. Superman' Provides Relief For Warner Bros. With Big $400 Million Opening

For Hollywood, there seems to be something about the Easter season...and it actually has nothing to do with the religious holiday.

Last year at this time, Comcast Corporation CMCSA's Universal revved up its best-ever debut for a film when "Furious 7" crashed into the box office. This year it was Time Warner Inc TWX's Warner Bros. turn as "Batman Vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice" hit theaters in a equally record-breaking fashion.

The first real entry into the new DC-connected film universe was expected to earn a global total of $350 million. In actuality, it's expected to take in well over $400 million with current projections nearing the $425 million mark.

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$170 million of that is coming from U.S. audiences, which is more than the $150 million expected earlier in the week and right in line with the high end of estimates following Thursday's profitable previews. As a result, Warner Bros. now holds the title for a number of important milestones including the best global debut for a superhero film, which was previously held by Marvel's "The Avengers."

In addition, the film takes the record for best non-summer opening from "The Hunger Games" and will top the global haul of the aforementioned "Furious 7." The only question left this week for Warners is if the $170 million number will hold. If so, it will overtake the final installment of the "Harry Potter" film franchise (at $169.1 million) to become the biggest studio opening of all time.

The studio will look to continue that momentum when "Suicide Squad" comes to theaters this August.

Image credit: Televisione Streaming, Flickr