The doomsday movie 2012 raked in $65 million during its opening weekend in the U.S. and pulled in $225 million worldwide, according to estimates from box office tracking company Nielsen EDI.
The debut was about $5 million more than experts predicted and rounded out a disastrous trilogy for director Roland Emmerich, who also directed Independence Day and The Day After Tomorrow.
2012 marks the second-highest debut of his directing career. The Day After Tomorrow opened to $69 million and did $187 million overall. 2012 opened in 105 territories overseas and earned an additional $160 million.
Sony Pictures initiated a unique marketing effort to generate interest among viewers, prompting them to research the actual Mayan calendar that ends in 2012, which some believe means that the world will come to an end.
Sony reported that its global total was the best ever for an original movie not based on an established franchise, brand or best-selling novel.
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