Source:Variety

June 25, 2009

Michael Bay's Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen earned $60.6 million its first day, easily breaking the opening day record for a Wednesday release at the domestic box office.

The previous record-holder was Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, which grossed $44.2 million in its first day.

The $60.6 million is the second-biggest single day at the domestic box office ever, trailing only The Dark Knight's $67.2 million and surpassing Spider-Man 3's $59.8 million.

"Revenge of the Fallen," playing in more than 4,200 theaters in the U.S., has a strong shot at surpassing the $152.4 million earned by Spider-Man 2 in its first five days. That film opened on the same Wednesday in 2004. The 5-day record is held by The Dark Knight, which made $203.8 million its first five days last July.

The opening day haul in the U.S. included $16 million in midnight runs, the best run ever for a film released on a Wednesday. And it's the third-best of all time after The Dark Knight ($18.5 million) and Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith ($16.9 million).