Wonder Woman becomes biggest opening by a female director
The DC origins story has overtaken Fifty Shades of Grey for the US box office record
Wonder Woman has enjoyed a superpowered start at the box office, smashing the record for the largest US opening weekend ever from a female director.
DC’s Extended Universe film – starring Gal Gadot and directed by Patty Jenkins – earned $101 million over the weekend in the US, along with critical acclaim (and a 93% score on Rotten Tomatoes).
The super origin story has taken the record from Fifty Shades of Grey, whose female director Sam Taylor-Johnson helped the film rake in $85.2 million during its 2015 opening.
However, Jenkins’ film only has the record for the largest US opening: at the worldwide box-office, Fifty Shades of Grey retains the title having grossed $242 million compared to Wonder Woman’s opening $223 million.
The UK figures for the opening weekend haven’t yet been released, with Fifty Shades’ £35m takings Wonder Woman’s target to beat.
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But for the moment there’s still plenty for the DC camp to celebrate. Wonder Woman is still the first major superhero film to be directed by a female, and it’s women who helped the movie to box office success – more than half, 52%, of the film's US audience this weekend were female.
AND it’s the film that gifted us that goosebump-inducing guitar riff…
We don our diadems in your direction, Diana.
Wonder Woman is in cinemas now
