ZACK SNYDER - WHO'S WATCHING THE WATCHMEN? NORTH AMERICA

WHO'S WATCHING THE WATCHMEN? NORTH AMERICA

Adult comic book adaptation Watchmen has made $55.7 million at the North American box office on its first three days of release to score the highest grossing opening of 2009.

The big-screen version of Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons' celebrated graphic novel opened on both sides of the Atlantic on Friday.

Its $55.7 million haul is below the $60 million plus estimates, but distributor Warner Bros said it was happy.

Dan Fellman, president of domestic theatrical distribution at Time Warner Inc, said: "Our expectations were met."

Watchmen director Zack Snyder's previous film 300 made $71 million two years ago on its three-day opening, but Fellman said you could not compare the two movies.

"This is a movie that runs two hours and 45 minutes," he told the Associated Press news agency.

"That really only leaves the exhibitor with one showing a night. If you have an 20:00 show, the next show is at midnight. So with essentially one show a night, I think this is outstanding."