"Finding Dory" has performed quite well in the domestic box office. It has garnered the biggest local opening for an animated film.
THR reported that "Finding Dory" box office sales brought in $136.2 million in its opening day in the U.S. The movie has landed the biggest domestic opening in film history for an animated title.
It has also become the only animated feature film to nab a spot in the overall list of top 20 openings at no. 18. "Finding Dory" was shown from 4,305 theaters across the country.
Internationally, "Finding Dory" box office sales grossed $50 million. It also gave Pixar its best with $17.5 million in China and $7.6 million in Australia.
"Shrek the Third" previously held the top animated domestic launch. It debuted with $121.6 million in 2007. Pixar's best, before "Finding Dory," was 2010's "Toy Story 3" with $110.3 million.
"In a funny way, the 13-year separation between the first and second movie was serendipitous," Disney domestic distribution chief Dave Hollis said. "It's part of what created a want-to-see, need-to-see movement. And it's the 17th consecutive Pixar film to receive some variation of an A CinemaScore."
"Finding Dory," the story about the forgetful fish, has definitely made itself unforgettable in film history. Ellen DeGeneres and Albert Brooks reprised their roles as Dory and Marlin, respectively.
"'Finding Dory' just showed total domination this weekend," comScore senior media analyst Paul Dergarabedian told USA Today. "The 'Finding Nemo' brand has been building with audiences for 13 years, first on the big screen and then on the small screen. That set the stage for this spectacular debut, bigger than anyone expected."
Moreover, it was revealed that 62 percent of the film's audience was women and girls. "It was girl power all the way with this terrific female character," he added.
"Finding Dory" got a 95 percent positive critical rating in RottenTomatoes.com.
