“Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” steamrolled past records -- debuting to a gargantuan $170.1 million over Easter weekend, despite being pilloried by critics. The numbers make it the top opening weekend for a DC Comics film, the best March launch ever and the sixth-biggest domestic opening weekend of all-time.

It's a shot in the arm for Warner Bros., which has been reeling from a series of costly bombs such as “Jupiter Ascending” and “Pan”, and is looking to the Dark Knight and Man of Steel throw down to kick off a series of inter-connected comic-book franchises. Warner Bros. has already announced release dates for sequels and spinoffs for the next five years, with the first of these superhero adventures, “Suicide Squad”, coming out in August.

The studio spared no expense, tapping Ben Affleck to assume Batman's cape and cowl, bringing back “Man of Steel” director Zack Snyder and Superman star Henry Cavill, and shelling out $250 million in production expenses, as well as millions more in promotional razzle-dazzle. 

It also undercuts the influence of top critics. Reviews for “Batman v Superman” were withering, but audiences didn't care. The film's audience was largely male (66%) and crowds tended to be younger, with 63% of ticket buyers ranging between the ages of 18 and 34. 

Last weekend's champ, “Zootopia”, slid to second place, racking up $23.1 million to push the family film's domestic total to $240.5 million. Globally, the Disney Animation blockbuster has earned $696.7 million, pushing it past the likes of “Tangled”, “Big Hero 6” and “Ratatouille”.

In third place, Universal scored a counter-programming success with “My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2”. The romantic comedy pulled in female crowds not interested in watching the superhero beat-down.

Source: Variety