Update: Article updated with final box office data.
Transformers: Dark of the Moon, Michael Bay’s third installment in the hugely successful franchise, launched to a $37.725M opening day from 4,011 theaters (figure includes about $8M from approximately 2,800 theaters for midnight shows). Paramount also says the film took in an estimated $5.5M from Tuesday night previews totaling a solid $43.225M. The debut is stronger than the 2007 original “Transformers” ($27.9M on a Monday), but below 2009’s “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen” which opened on a Tuesday with a $62M opening day. ‘Dark of the Moon’ was stronger than its predecessor, however, in international box office where it took in $32.5M in 110 territories, an incredible 38% ahead of what ‘Revenge of the Fallen’ opened to internationally two years ago. Including international previews — estimated at $4.1M — the film’s worldwide cume is at $79.8M.
Sources: Box Office Mojo & Deadline