Fast and Furious, the fourth installment of the octane-obsessed franchise, scored the highest spring debut of all time by revving up $72.5 million, according to studio estimates from Nielsen EDI.
The film already has earned more than the previous installment, 2006''s "The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift," which opened with $24 million and ended up making $62.5 million.
The new champ reunites Vin Diesel and Paul Walker, the stars of the 2001 original, which brought in $40.1 million on its opening weekend. The first sequel, 2003''s "2 Fast 2 Furious," debuted with $50.5 million. Their respective totals were $144.5 million and $127.1 million.
Best opening yet in 2009, easily beating the bows of the more-buzzed-about "Monsters vs. Aliens" ($59.3 million) and "Watchmen" ($55.2 million).
Featuring the movie''s original stars, Vin Diesel and Paul Walker, the movie opened at $30 million more than many analysts projected and set a spate of records, including the highest opening for a movie in the first four months of the year. The previous best was 300, which opened to $70.9 million in March 2007.
Oh, and let''s not forget that it was the best opening ever for a car-themed movie! (Beating "Cars''" $60.1 million.) This outcome is impressive, indeed, something that has caught Hollywood by surprise and has the potential to really change things up -- like when summer-esque blockbusters are released (rarely does one open so early in the year) and like, you know, what everyone thinks of Vin Diesel.
Diesel and Walker resurrect their roles as old foes who team up to confront a common enemy. Along the way, there are car chases, convoy heists and burning gas tankers.