'Da Vinci Code' pulls in $224 mn worldwide

LOS ANGELES: The Da Vinci Code scored $224 million worldwide and topped the North American box office in its weekend debut as the controversial film overcame bad reviews and calls for boycotts, early figures have showed.

The film, highly anticipated by fans of Dan Brown's bestselling novel and vigorously criticised by religious groups, raked in $77 million in North America, according to box office tracker Exhibitor Relations Co. Inc.

Around the world, director Ron Howard's $125-million thriller, starring Tom Hanks, raked in an estimated $224 million, Exhibitor Relations said.

It was the fourth biggest worldwide opening, according to Daily Variety, the top Hollywood trade paper. Only Star Wars: Episode III, Lord of the Rings: Return of the King, and War of the Worlds did better.

The Sony Pictures film is already the greatest commercial success for Howard and Hanks, according to Exhibitor Relations. Hanks' previous biggest opening weekend was for Toy Story 2, which made $57.4 million in its 1999 opening.