The adult-themed superhero film Watchmen seized control of the North American box office posting the biggest debut of the year with an estimated $55.7M in ticket sales over the Friday-to-Sunday period. Directed by Zack Snyder (300, Dawn of the Dead), the R-rated film based on the acclaimed 1986 comic series averaged a muscular $15,413 from 3,611 theaters. It was the third best March opening ever trailing 300 ($70.9M) and Ice Age: The Meltdown ($68M) and the sixth largest bow for an R-rated film after The Matrix Reloaded ($91.8M), The Passion of the Christ ($83.8M), 300, Hannibal ($58M), and Sex and the City ($57M).

With a reported budget of about $125M, the anti-heroes began the weekend with a terrific $25.1M on Friday including $4.6M in Thursday night shows beginning at midnight. Saturday fell sharply by 25% to $19M while Sunday is estimated to drop 38% to $11.6M.

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Who watches the “Watchmen?”

Audiences answered that question on Friday to the tune of $25.1 million at the box office for the highly anticipated superhero film.

Its grosses included $4.6 million from midnight previews.

The two hour, 41 minute film opened on 3,611 screens, the most ever for an R-rated movie, though it will likely fall below director Zack Synder’s previous effort, 2007’s “300,” which earned $70 million during its opening weekend — a record for March openings. The long running time means that the film screens less times per day on each screen.

Based on Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons’ classic graphic novel, the journey of “Watchmen” to the big screen has been closely followed by fans.

The film follows a group of cynical heroes as they investigate the murder of one of their own against the backdrop of societal dysfunction and looming nuclear war.

The film faces no significant competition in the form of other new releases at the box office this weekend.

From Access Hollywood

Malin’s next film, “Couples Retreat”, will be released on October 9, 2009! The movie co-stars Vince Vaughn, Kristen Bell and Jason Bateman.

A comedy centered around four couples who settle into a tropical-island resort for a vacation. While one of the couples is there to work on the marriage, the others fail to realize that participation in the resort’s therapy sessions is not optional.