The latest entry into the Marvel superhero, Spider-Man, franchise, “Spider-Man 3,” has set the all-time record for highest grossing box-office debut with a phenomenal $59 million in the U.S. on opening day, Friday, May 4, 2007. It broke the previous all-time high of $55.8 million for “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest” in its first day last summer.
Sony Pictures also reported Saturday that the movie took in an additional $45 million overseas on Friday. This brings the “Spider-Man 3” worldwide total sales to $104 million, a record for single-day grosses globally.
Sony said that it expects “Spider-Man 3” to hit the $145 million mark for the opening May 4th weekend. That amount would again set the record for best three-day opening ever, a record set by the first “Spider-Man” movie in 2002 with a gross of $114.8 million. That record was broken in 2006 by “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest” with a gross of $135.6 million.
With a cost of $258 million, “Spider-Man 3” is well on its way to recouping those costs within another week. It has also set the record for opening at the most theaters, opening in 4,252 theaters, breaking the previous record of 4,163 set by “Shrek 2” in 2004.
Tobey Maguire reprises his role as Peter Parker / Spider-Man, a role he claims he will not reprise for a fourth Spider-Man film. Also returning are Kirsten Dunst as Peter’s girlfriend, Mary Jane, and James Franco as his best friend, Harry. And director Sam Raimi returns to direct.
A synopsis of “Spider-Man 3” follows.
Peter Parker life is going great. His relationship with Mary Jane is doing well, his job at the Daily Bugle is going great with a staff job coming his way, and New York’s citizens are finally appreciating his crime-fighting role. However, all is about to change. A prisoner, Flint Marko, escapes prison and is involved in a freak accident, which changes his molecular chemistry and transforming him into the super villain, the Sandman, a mutant able to change his body into sand. Peter finds out that Marko had a role in his Uncle Ben’s murder and is on a mission to capture him. Peter’s best friend, Harry Osborn, takes up his father’s role as The New Goblin, returning to cause Spidey more problems because he blames him for his father’s death.
These are the least of his concerns because his suit becomes “infected” by a mysterious black substance that has turned his suit black and begins unleashing Spider-Man’s darkest side. Peter alienates his friends, cheats on Mary Jane with his lab partner, Gwen Stacy, which causes a rivalry with rival Bugle photographer, Eddie Brock. The black substance has its sights on Eddie and “infects” him, turning him into one of Spidey’s toughest nemesis, Venom.
With three super villains to contend with plus his own inner demons eating at him, Peter is forced to become the superhero he has forgotten about if he hopes to save the day and survive.
Sources: Associated Press
