'Transformers' beats targets with $201 mln debut

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The "Transformers" sequel quickly became the third-biggest movie of the year at the North American box office after just five days of release, as the costly robot extravaganza surpassed industry expectations.

"Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen," a follow-up to the smash hit of 2007, earned an estimated $201.2 million since it blasted into theaters on Wednesday, distributor Paramount Pictures said on Sunday.

Earlier in the week, the Viacom Inc-owned studio had conservatively forecast a five-day haul in the $130 million to $150 million range. But industry pundits said a tally of at least $175 million was more likely.

"For me the high water mark was, could you get to $200 million in seven days?" said Don Harris, executive vice-president of distribution at Paramount, adding that his target was met with skepticism by movie-theater owners.

The biggest movies of the year so far are "Up" with $250 million and "Star Trek" with $246 million. The new "Transformers" movie is on track to hit the low $300 million area by the end of next weekend, Paramount said.

"We should have three really strong weeks before 'Harry Potter (and the Half-Blood Prince)' comes in (on July 15)," Harris said.

PIPPED BY "DARK KNIGHT"

The film narrowly missed the five-day opening record of $203.8 million set last year by "The Dark Knight," the second-biggest film of all time before adjusting for inflation. Its $60.6 million haul on its first day also fell just short of the all-time single-day record of $67 million, set on a Friday by the Batman sequel.

Harris said women accounted for 46 percent of moviegoers, up from 40 percent for the first movie, an indication of the franchise's expanding appeal.

Exit surveys indicated that 91 percent of moviegoers considered the film as good as or better than the first one, Harris said. Critics, on the other hand, were mildly favorable towards the first film, but mostly appalled by the sequel, according to Rotten Tomatoes (www.rottentomatoes.com), a Web site that analyzes reviews.

The first "Transformers" was the third-biggest film of 2007 in North America, ending up with $319 million. It opened on the Monday before the July 4 holiday, so comparisons are difficult. They have plenty in common though: director Michael Bay reunites with young stars Shia LaBeouf and Megan Fox. Robots rampage across the landscape, and things explode. The sequel reportedly cost about $200 million to make.

"Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" also opened internationally on Wednesday, but got an early start last weekend with a No. 1 bow in Britain and No. 2 in Japan behind a local release. Data for the current weekend were not immediately available.

The film's domestic haul includes $14.4 million from Imax Corp giant screens. "That used to be a good month for us," said Greg Foster, Imax's president of filmed entertainment.

The movie's $112 million tally for the traditional three-day period beginning Friday easily eclipsed the combined tallies of the rest of the movies in the top 10. Last weekend's champion, "The Proposal," slipped to No. 2 with $18.5 million. Walt Disney Co's Sandra Bullock romance has earned $69 million after 10 days.

The bachelor party comedy "The Hangover" was No. 3 with $17.2 million in its fourth weekend. It has earned $183 million to date. The film was released by Warner Bros. Pictures, a unit of Time Warner Inc.

Disney's Pixar-produced cartoon "Up" was No. 4 with $13 million. With $250 million banked so far, it needs only to surpass "The Incredibles" ($261 million) to become the second-biggest Pixar production behind "Finding Nemo" ($340 million).

New in theaters at No. 5 was Warner Bros.' weepie "My Sister's Keeper," which earned just $12 million. Cameron Diaz stars as a mother who gives birth to a genetically engineered second daughter to help save the life of her leukemia-stricken elder daughter.