"Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith" earned $158.5 million from Thursday to Sunday, according to studio estimates, beating the previous record held by 2003's "Matrix Reloaded," which made $134.3 million.

"Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith" also beats the record set by "Shrek 2," which was set on a Saturday, the fourth day of its release.

"Sith" took in an estimated $108.5 million from Friday to Sunday, slightly lower than the record held by the first "Spider-Man" movie, which took in $114.8 million in May 2002. But "Spider-Man" didn't debut on a Thursday like "Sith."

The Thursday take was impressive, considering it was on a weekday with school still in session, said Bruce Snyder, president of distribution at Fox, which is owned by News Corp.

TOP WEEKEND BOX OFFICE (May 20-22)

1. REVENGE OF THE SITH
2. MONSTER-IN-LAW
3. KICKING & SCREAMING
4. CRASH
5. UNLEASHED
6. KINGDOM OF HEAVEN
7. HOUSE OF WAX
8. THE INTERPRETER
9. HITCHHIKER'S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY
10. MINDHUNTERS

Arjun Varma, for TFM. 

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