The poster of Transformers II (SINA.COM)

Transformers II surprised media analysts and movie industry pundits to gross an estimated $201.2 million since its release on Wednesday in North America, achieving the best five-day opening ever after Dark Knight, preliminary figures showed Sunday.

The action sequel, produced by DreamWorks and distributed by Paramount, took in about $112 million in the United States and Canada over the traditional three-day weekend, according to movie industry review website Hollywood.com.

Warner Bros.' Dark Knight grossed $203.8 million in North America in its first five days last summer. The two films are now the only ones to ever achieve the $200-million box office mark in five days in Hollywood's history.

Meanwhile, Transformers II was estimated to gross $387 million worldwide through Sunday, over half of the $708-million global take for its predecessor, which opened two years ago.

Disney romance and comedy The Proposal was No. 2 at the weekend box office, with $18.5 million over its second weekend in release.

In third place over the weekend was The Hangover, a Warner Bros. comedy which was expected to take in $17.2 million over the three-day period. The surprisingly successful film has grossed $183.2 million in four weeks.

With 13 million dollars over the weekend, Disney/Pixar blockbuster Up has crossed the $250-million mark to become the year's top-grossing film in North America, while new release My Sister's Keeper from Warner Bros. was in fifth place with $12 million this weekend.

(Xinhua News Agency June 29, 2009)