IT Beats Estimates with Massive $123.1 Million

New Line Cinema had estimated that IT would bring in $117.2 million domestically this weekend on Sunday morning. That estimate was way low, as final figures show that the Andrés Muschietti-directed movie actually earned $123.1 million from 4,103 theaters, an average of $30,002 per location.

The long list of records for this impressive opening include: it’s the largest opening ever for a horror movie; the largest 3-day opening weekend for an R-rated movie; the 3rd-largest opening in 2017; the largest opening for a September movie (beating Hotel Transylvania 2‘s $48.5 million); the largest IMAX opening weekend ($6.7 million) for a movie in September and a horror movie; the largest number of locations for an R-rated movie; and it’s the largest opening weekend ever for New Line. The $13.5 million IT earned at Thursday previews was the largest Thursday pre-show ever for a horror movie, the largest for an R-rated movie (beating Deadpool‘s $12.7 million), the largest pre-show for a September release, and the biggest for New Line.

IT cost about $35 million to make and received a B+ CinemaScore from audiences. Approximately 175 theaters were closed this weekend in Florida due to Hurricane Irma. Florida typically represents about 5.5 – 6.5% of the domestic gross.

Internationally, IT has earned $66.3 million from 10,665 screens in 46 markets, which is the biggest opening ever for a horror film. The worldwide total is already at $189.4 million. Among the other benchmarks are: the highest opening weekend for a horror film and top September debut ever in Russia and Australia; the biggest horror film debut in Brazil, Holland and Poland; and Warner Bros. Pictures’ largest opening for 2017 in 19 markets, including Russia, Australia, Spain, Poland, Norway, Belgium, Finland, Denmark and Chile.

IT stars Bill Skarsgård as the story’s central villain, Pennywise the clown. An ensemble of young actors also star in the film, including Jaeden Lieberher (Midnight Special), Jeremy Ray Taylor (Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip), Sophia Lillis (37), Finn Wolfhard (TV’s Stranger Things), Wyatt Oleff (Guardians of the Galaxy), Chosen Jacobs (upcoming Cops and Robbers), Jack Dylan Grazer (Tales of Halloween) and Nicholas Hamilton (Captain Fantastic). A sequel to IT is already in the works with Gary Dauberman writing the script. Muschietti is expected to return, but he hasn’t signed a deal yet.