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.
VIEW THE PHOTOS: 'Watchmen' Hollywood Premiere
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.
VIEW THE PHOTOS: 'Watchmen's' World Tour
Based on Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons' classic graphic novel, the journey of "Watchmen" to the big screen has been closely followed by fans.
U.S. & World
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.
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