Two of the comic book world's biggest heavyweights, Batman and Superman, are ready to square off on the big screen, and possibly knock out a few box office records.
"Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice," opens in 4,200 theaters domestically this weekend and is projected to bring in a North American opening weekend of around $150 million, according to box office analysts.
This would put the film in striking distance of the March box office record that belongs to "The Hunger Games," which made $152.5 million in 2012.
The film by DC Entertainment and Warner Bros., which like CNN, is owned by Time Warner (TWX), also opens in 65 markets around the world on Friday including the world's second biggest market, China. This roll out has led analysts to predict a global opening that could gross over $300 million this weekend.
The superhero mashup starring Henry Cavill as the Man of Steel and Ben Affleck as the Caped Crusader could be one of 2016's biggest blockbuster films thanks to the DC heroes finally sharing the screen, and also an early spring opening.
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With a release on Easter weekend, rather than in the competitive summer, it clears the way for the two heroes to pummel the box office for weeks to come.
Online ticket site Fandango reports that the film has topped the presales for any superhero film in the site's history. This includes blockbusters like last summer's "The Avengers: Age of Ultron" and 2012's "The Dark Knight Rises."
However, the box office for "Batman v Superman" may run into some Kryptonite thanks to harsh reviews.
It holds a 40% score on review site Rotten Tomatoes with some critics like Entertainment Weekly's Chris Nashawaty saying the film is "another numbing smash-and-bash orgy of CGI mayhem."
But according to Eric Handler, media and entertainment analyst for MKMPartners, reviews probably won't keep fans from seeing the movie on its opening weekend.
"A core audience who likes these characters will go see the film this weekend," Handler said. "Where the reviews may hurt it is in its second weekend."
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Handler added that the film's two hour and 31 minute run time may factor into its ticket sales.
Yet, if Batman and Superman can defeat the Lex Luthor's of the world, they shouldn't have too much of a problem with a long run time.
