Exceeding even the most generous projections, "Logan" carved up the North American box office with a colossal $85.3 million opening weekend. That gives the R-rated Fox film raked in an estimated $237.8 million worldwide, blowing past pre-release estimates of $170 million.

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Hugh Jackman's farewell to Wolverine, a character he's played in nine films over the course of 17 years, "Logan" had been projected by rival studios to earn between $70 million and $75 million domestically in its first weekend, a figure that was revised to $80 million following a strong Friday showing. For its part, Fox had attempted to manage expectations, predicting a $65 million debut.

With its $85.3 million North American haul, "Logan" unseats "The LEGO Batman Movie" ($53 million) to claim the largest opening weekend of 2017. Director James Mangold's sequel also sunk its claws into the fifth-largest opening for an R-rated film, behind "Deadpool" ($132.4 million), "The Matrix Reloaded" ($91.7 million), "American Sniper" ($89.3 million) and "The Hangover Part II" ($85.9 million). It pushed "Fifty Shades of Grey" ($85 million) out of the No. 5 spot.

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"Logan" is set in the near future, years after the epilogue of 2014’s “X-Men: Days of Future Past.” In it, a weary Logan, whose healing factor is failing, cares for an ailing Professor X in a hideout on the Mexican border. But Logan’s attempts to hide from the world and his legacy are up-ended when a young mutant arrives, pursued by dark forces.

In theaters nationwide, “Logan” stars Hugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart, Boyd Holbrook, Richard E. Grant, Dafne Keen and Stephen Merchant.

(via Variety)