X-Men 2's worldwide opening on May 1 was the biggest launch
in movie history and lays down the gauntlet for the Matrix sequel,
Reloaded, which opens at the end of the month.
The $155m haul has meant that the blockbuster has already recouped
its $110m (£68.6m) production costs.
Exit polls conducted in north America, where the film went
straight into number one (with $85.9 million) showed that a
surprisingly high 44 per cent of the audience for the sequel
was female, according to Fox distribution president, Bruce Snyder.
Generally glowing reviews also brought in older audiences,
with 52 per cent aged over 25, he added.
Click on the link to the right for an overview of the US critical
reaction, or hit the review link for our verdict on the X-cellent
sequel.
