'Watchmen' earns $24.9 mil in first day

March 07, 2009 Moviegoers came out to watch "Watchmen" on Friday to the tune of an estimated $24.9 million, including the $4.6 million that the graphic novel adaptation about dystopian superheroes picked up at midnight screenings Thursday. The film, co-produced by Warner Bros. and Legendary Pictures and playing in 3,611 locations, the widest release ever for an R-rated film, is currently pulling in somewhat less than director Zack Snyder's last film, "300," which grabbed $28.1 million on its first day of release in March 2007 and went on to a first-weekend gross of $70.9 million. On Thursday night, "Watchmen" attracted more than double the audience that showed up for midnight showings of "300," which took in $2.5 million when it originally bowed at midnight screenings.

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