'Rings' sets NZ record

The hobbits are again hogging the box office limelight around the world.

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, the second film in director Peter Jackson's fantasy trilogy, set a new record for an opening weekend at New Zealand cinemas, taking $2.29 million and surpassing the previous mark set last year by the first film in the trilogy, The Fellowship of The Ring, by nearly $165,000.

The new film topped the US box office too, earning an estimated US$101.5 million ($197 million) in its first five days of release.

The picture has also racked up US$85 million ($165 million) in 26 other countries, breaking opening-day records in Germany and Scandinavia.

The Two Towers got off to a faster start in the US than its predecessor, The Fellowship of the Ring, did this time last year, taking 25 per cent more in its opening weekend.

However, The Two Towers had a wider distribution, opening at 3622 theatres, compared to 3359 for The Fellowship.

The biggest film so far this year in the US has been Spider-Man, which earned a record US$115 million ($223 million) in its first three days and ended up with US$404 million ($784 million).

Officials at New Line Cinema, the Rings trilogy studio, did not have exit polling data, but said The Two Towers had rated strongly with all ages and demographics.

A major thrust of the marketing campaign was directed at female moviegoers, who were under-represented at The Fellowship last year, said Rolf Mittweg, New Line's president of worldwide marketing and distribution.

The film's audience was also boosted by the video release of The Fellowship, which has sold 35 million copies on VHS and DVD worldwide, said Mittweg.

- REUTERS

Herald feature: Lord of the Rings