New Line Cinema’s widely acclaimed horror thriller IT smashed the record books with stunning opening weekend numbers on both the domestic and international fronts, it was announced by Sue Kroll, President Worldwide Marketing and Distribution, Warner Bros. Pictures. Based on Stephen King’s beloved perennial bestseller, the film took in an estimated $189.4 million worldwide.

Domestically, IT scared up an astounding $123.1 million, crushing multiple records in its first weekend, starting with $13.5 million Thursday night previews, which made history as the highest horror preview; the largest R-rated preview; and the top September preview ever. Through the weekend, the milestones continued to mount, just a few of which include: the top horror film opening ever; biggest September opening for a film of any genre; and highest non-holiday weekend release for an R-rated film. On its own, IT surpassed the all-time industry record gross for a post-Labor Day weekend.  In addition, IT now stands as New Line Cinema’s highest opening ever, and moviegoers looking for the biggest scares gave IMAX^® their #1 opening weekend in September.

Internationally, IT also saw huge releases in 46 markets, topping the box office in virtually all of them. Taking in an extraordinary $66.3 million, IT had the largest opening ever for a horror film.

BILL SKARSGÅRD as Pennywise in New Line Cinema’s horror thriller “IT.” ©Warner Bros. Entertainment/RatPac-Dune Entertainment. CR: Brooke Palmer.

Among the other benchmarks are: the highest opening weekend for a horror film and top September debut ever in Russia and Australia; the biggest horror film debut in Brazil, Holland and Poland; and Warner Bros. Pictures’ largest opening for 2017 in 19 markets, including Russia, Australia, Spain, Poland, Norway, Belgium, Finland, Denmark and Chile. Anticipation is high in major markets yet to open, including Sweden, Mexico, France, Argentina, Germany and Italy.

New Line Cinema’s horror thriller IT, directed by Andrés Muschietti, the Argentinian director who previously made the horror film, Mama (2013), is based on the hugely popular Stephen King novel of the same name, which has been terrifying readers for decades. The story happens when children begin to disappear in the town of Derry, Maine, a group of young kids are faced with their biggest fears when they square off against an evil clown named Pennywise, whose history of murder and violence dates back for centuries.

The film stars an ensemble of young actors, including Jaeden Lieberher, Jeremy Ray Taylor, Sophia Lillis, Finn Wolfhard, Wyatt Oleff, Chosen Jacobs, Jack Dylan Grazer, Nicholas Hamilton, and Bill Skarsgård as Pennywise.