Opening glory for Two Towers

By STAFF REPORTER and NZPA

The second film in Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings trilogy has started with a hiss and a roar, taking US$42 million ($77 million) internationally on its opening day and being nominated for two Golden Globe awards.

The Two Towers made US$26 million on its opening day in the US on Wednesday, up on the US$18 million opening of The Fellowship of the Ring. The second film also brought in US$16 million on Wednesday in 14 other countries, also an increase on the US$11 million overseas gross that Fellowship scored on its first day, said distributor New Line Cinema.

In yesterday's nominations for the Golden Globes, The Two Towers was nominated in the best film (drama) category, where it is up against About Schmidt, Gangs of New York, The Hours and The Pianist.

Jackson is nominated for best director alongside Martin Scorsese (Gangs of New York), Steven Daldry (The Hours), Spike Jonze (Adaptation), Rob Marshall (Chicago) and Alexander Payne (About Schmidt).

Herald feature: Lord of the Rings