JAMES FRANCO - PINEAPPLE EXPRESS BREAKS AUGUST OPENING RECORD

PINEAPPLE EXPRESS BREAKS AUGUST OPENING RECORD

Comedy film Pineapple Express has broken a box office record after opening in the US.

The drug comedy, starring Seth Rogen and James Franco, took $12.1 million (£6.3 million) on its opening day to achieve the best-ever Wednesday opening for August.

Girly sequel Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants 2 currently sits in second in the US midweek box office chart, according to Variety, with $5.7 million (£2.9 million) in takings.

And despite shattering numerous box office records, including reaching the $400 million (£207.7 million) mark in record time, The Dark Knight sits in third in midweek.

Pineapple Express, from the team behind Superbad, easily passed the $8.9 million (£4.6 million) marker set by The Princess Diaries 2 for the best Wednesday opening in August, while Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants 2 returns the original foursome of actresses to the screen.

Two of their number - America Ferrara and Blake Lively - have now become television stars in their own right, in Ugly Betty and Gossip Girl respectively.

The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor sits in fourth on the midweek chart while Mamma Mia! continues to perform strongly in fifth.

Final box office figures will be confirmed on Monday.

Pineapple Express is released in the UK on September 12th.