Pirates 4 Biggest U.S. Opening of 2011 Thus Far

files/pictures/picture-35.jpgPIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: ON STRANGER TIDES marked the biggest opening weekend in the U.S. for 2011. The fourth PIRATES film sailed away with $90.1 million, besting FAST FIVE's $86.2 million haul. Compared to the previous sequels though, the film took on water for sure. DEAD MAN'S CHEST earned $135.6 million and AT WORLD'S END brought in $114.7 million in their opening weekends. TIDES has vfx from BlueBolt, Cinesite, Hirota Paint Industries (HPI), Hydraulx, Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), Method Studios, CIS Hollywood, Kerner Optical, Mova, Moving Picture Company (MPC), Pixel Liberation Front and Rising Sun Pictures.

Universal's BRIDESMAIDS stayed over another weekend in second. The raunchy comedy wed an additional $21.1 million, lifting its box office dowry to $59.5 million.

Paramount and Marvel's THOR slipped from its two-week perch at the top of the box office to land in third. With vfx from BUF, CEG Media, Digital Domain, Fuel VFX, Hirota Paint Industries (HPI), Legacy Effects, Luma Pictures, The Base Studio, The Third Floor and Whiskytree, the god of thunder added an additional $15.5 million to its $145.4 million cume.

Universal's FAST FIVE raced into fourth with $10.6 million. With vfx from BlueBolt, Factory VFX, Method Studios, Moving Picture Company (MPC), Pixomondo, Proof and With A Twist Studio, the hit heist flick has a cume of $186.2 million.

Fox and Blue Sky's RIO racked up another $4.65 million in fifth place. The animated hit has nested $131.6 million to date.

Screen Gem's PRIEST sunk to sixth with $4.6 million. With vfx from Cinema Production Services, Conversion Works, Gradient Effects, Iloura, Kerner Optical, Matte Painting UK, Pixel Liberation Front, SPIN VFX, The Senate Visual Effects, Svengali Visual Effects, Tippett Studio and Trixter Film, the comic book inspired flick has a cume of $23.7 million.

TriStar's JUMPING THE BROOM leapt into seventh with $3.7 million. The romcom has brought in $31.3 million thus far.

Warner Bros.' SOMETHING BORROWED donned the eighth slot, earning $3.43 million. The romantic comedy has a cume of $31.4 million.

Fox's WATER FOR ELEPHANTS stomped into ninth place, raising another $2.15 million. With vfx from Crazy Horse Effects, Proof, Shade VFX and With A Twist Studio, the Depression-set romance has amassed $52.4 million to date.

Lionsgate's TYLER PERRY'S MADEA'S BIG HAPPY FAMILY closed out the top ten with $990,000. The Tyler Perry comedy has earned $51.8 million thus far.

Box office numbers were obtained on boxofficemojo.com.