Warner Bros.' much-watched release of the epic-length actioner "Watchmen" wound up topping the domestic boxoffice with a weekend haul estimated at $55.7 million for an opening in the far lower end of pre-release projections. Directed by Zack Snyder, there had been much speculation over whether "Watchmen" would bow higher than the helmer's ancient Greece actioner "300," which debuted with $70.9 million in March 2007. "Watchmen" had a field free from other wide openers following a high-profile courtroom battle between Warners and Fox for the right to release the cult comic-book adaptation.

"Watchmen" opened at No. 1 in the U.K. ($4.6 million from 420 sites), Russia ($2.3 million from 582 locales), Australia ($2.3 million from 222 locations), Italy ($1.6 million from 266 spots), Korea ($1.4 million from 293 screens), Brazil, Mexico and the Netherlands.