Tilda Swinton and Benedict Cumberbatch appeared at a press conference in Shanghai for "Dr. Strange." (Photo : Getty Images)
"Dr. Strange" pocketed $44.5 million on its opening weekend in China, making it the third-best film debut for Marvel Studios, after "Avengers: Age of Ultron" and "Captain America."
The debut of "Dr. Strange" in China was boosted by a day-and-date release synchronized with its roll out in North America.
The Marvel Comics movie dominated the Chinese box office throughout the first three days of its release.
Citing figures from Ent Group, Variety reported that the film started with $12 million on Friday, peaked at $17.7 million on Saturday and declined modestly on Sunday to $14.2 million.
"On each date 'Strange' enjoyed over 80,000 screenings, or about 40 percent of available screening times. But data from CBO shows its gross accounting for 69 percent of total box office revenues from the China market on both Friday and Saturday," wrote Variety.
"Dr. Strange's" China release also sealed Disney's role as the top foreign distributor of movies to the country in 2016.
Globally, the superhero film registered equally impressive figures, enabling it to cross the $325 million mark, according to ComicBookMovie.com.
"Dr. Strange," which is headlined by Benedict Cumberbatch, is also the first film to play on more than 1,000 IMAX screens, fattening its global haul by $24.2 million.
In North America, the movie has so far grossed $85.1 million. It is Disney's second-largest opening for November and is the top movie for most markets on its first weekend.
"Dr. Strange" had its world premiere in Hong Kong on Oct. 13, which was attended by Cumberbatch and Tilda Swinton, among other cast members.
The American superhero film was directed by Scott Derrickson, who also co-wrote it with C. Robert Cargill and Jon Spaihts. It is the 14th film of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
The movie has received a 90 percent approval rating out of 233 reviews on Rotten Tomatoes.
