Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy, has broken the record for highest-ever opening for a romantic comedy in the UK and Ireland.
This was confirmed by Universal, who said that the latest instalment of the franchise, scooped up $15.5 million (£12.3 million) in its first weekend, which beat Marvel's first release of the year, Captain America: Brave New World.
The previous record had been held by the second movie of the franchise, Bridget Jones: The Edge Of Reason, which brought in $13.1 million (£10.4 million).
Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy, had initially enjoyed huge success in the UK, thanks to impressive pre sale figures. The film fared better than the record breaking Margot Robbie movie, Barbie, which was also one half of the 'Barbenheimer' phenomenon.
It was also the franchise's biggest opening in the Netherlands, Poland, Norway, Denmark, Sweden and Finland.
Bridget Jones had initially appeared as anonymous columns in the Independent, written by journalist Helen Fielding. Eventually, these columns became best selling books, with Bridget as the central character.
The films, starring Renée Zellweger, went on to be produced by production company, Working Title, who were also responsible for Four Weddings And A Funeral, Love Actually, and Notting Hill. Bridget Jones' latest movie is the company's highest ever opening.
According to Fielding, the key to Bridget Jones' appeal has been her revealing "the gap between how you feel you are supposed to be and how you really are inside".
Speaking about this role, Renée Zellweger called playing Bridget Jones, "the best job in the world".
"I love her. I love her humour. I love her vulnerability. I love her imperfection. I love the opportunity to play out her miscalculating a plan and it maybe, surprising her in her execution. I love all of it", the actress said.
Zellweger was nominated for an Oscar, following the release of the first film, Bridget Jones' Diary in 2001.
