Director Genndy Tartakovsky's animated comedy "Hotel Transylvania 2" took a $47.5 million bite out of the North American box office, breaking the record set in 2012 by the first film for the best September opening of all time.

The original film, released by Sony Pictures, debuted in 2012 to $42 million, and went on to gross $148.3 million domestically ($358.4 million worldwide).

The sequel's performance gives a much-needed boost to star Adam Sandler who, following film's like "Jack and Jill," "That's My Boy," "Blended" and "Pixels," isn't the marquee name he once was.

“It’s on its way to being one of the most beloved franchises of all time,” said Rory Bruer, president of worldwide distribution for Sony Pictures. “There are a lot of stories left to tell."

"Hotel Transylvania 2" was followed at a distant second by Warner Bros.' Robert De Niro-Anne Hathaway comedy "The Intern," which opened with $18.2 million. Last weekend's winner, "Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials," slipped to third with $14 million, while "Everest" and "Black Mass" rounded out the Top 5 with $13.1 million and $11.5 million, respectively.