Universal Pictures Australia has had its biggest opening week for a film ever, after Fast and Furious 5 sped into town last week.
In its first official week, the high-powered action film reached top speeds, raking in $13.6 million in Australia, and roared past epic adventure Thor and animated flick Rio. Including last Wednesday's previews, it's made $14.4 million.
This passes the previous instalment in the franchise – Fast and Furious 4 – which took $10.5 million in its opening week in Australia in 2009.
Starring Vin Diesel, Paul Walker and “the great one” The Rock – Dwayne Johnson – the new instalment takes the stars to a very unfamiliar place – the opposite side of the law in exotic Rio de Janeiro. Director Justin Lin recently hinted a future Furious film could be set in Australia.
Aussies flocked to their local multiplexes over the long six-day Easter and Anzac Day weekend with Fast and Furious, Thor and Rio being the top three films.
Paramount’s Thor – starring our own Chris Hemsworth alongside Anthony Hopkins and Natalie Portman – hammered its way to second spot, taking in $8.5 million, while Rio – which opened on April 7 – made a further $3.4 million. They have both now made $9.1 million and $14 million respectively.
Thor, based on the Marvel comic of the same name, has had a positive reception and can be seen in the April/May issue of IF magazine.