LOS ANGELES |
Mon May 30, 2011 2:21pm EDT

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – North American moviegoers spent the U.S. Memorial Day weekend nursing a giant “Hangover” as the raunchy comedy sequel helped power the holiday to record ticket sales, according to studio data issued on Monday.

Meanwhile, foreign fans ensured that the fourth “Pirates of the Caribbean” adventure remained the top global pick.

“The Hangover, Part II,” one of the most anticipated releases of the summer, sold $137.4 million worth of tickets across the United States and Canada during its first five days, said distributor Warner Bros. Pictures.

It has already earned more than the 2009 original did in its first 10 days despite largely negative critical reaction to the latest tale of four revelers’ drunken hijinks, this time in Thailand.

The tally, which includes $31.6 million from a head start on Thursday, exceeded the studio’s expectation of an opening in the $90 million to $100 million range. The film cost the Time Warner Inc unit about $80 million to make.

The film also opened in 40 foreign markets, earning $60.3 million through Sunday, according to updated Warner Bros. data. It opened at No. 1 in Britain with $16.7 million, setting a record for an American comedy, the studio said.

Along with new installments in the “Kung Fu Panda” and “Pirates of the Caribbean” franchises, “Hangover” drove Memorial Day holiday weekend sales to a new record of about $280 million, according to box office analysts at Hollywood.com. The old record of $255 million was set in 2007.

The multiplex stampede could not come at a better time for the

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