When is a $55.7 million weekend considered a slight disappointment?

• When the film is the only new major release that weekend.
• The movie involves superheroes.
• The story is based on a popular graphic novel.
• The project has received a significant amount of attention due to a lengthy court battle.
• The director earned more for his last film. (300 grossed $70.9 million over its first three days back in 2007.)
• The R-rated film features plenty of gore and nudity.
• It cost between $120-$150 million to make.

Even though Watchmen didn’t match expectations, there were plenty of reasons for Warner Bros. to be happy about this weekend. The lengthy movie (it’s running time was 2:40) currently stands as the best opener of the year. The Zack Snyder project also had the fifth best debut ever for an R-rated film.

1. Watchmen, Warner Bros., $55,214,334 (avg. $15,291)
2. Tyler Perry’s Madea Goes to Jail, Lionsgate, $8,532,412 (avg. $3967)
3. Taken, 20th Century Fox, $7,334,814 (avg. $2432)
4. Slumdog Millionaire, Fox Searchlight, $6,808,383 (avg. $2356)
5. Paul Blart: Mall Cop, Sony, $4,146,316 (avg. $1621)
6. He’s Just Not That Into You, New Line, $4,017,326 (avg. $1643)
7. Coraline, Focus Features, $3,255,852 (avg. $1662)
8. Confessions of a Shopaholic, Disney, $3,100,298 (avg. $1354)
9. Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience, Disney, $2,832,454 (avg. $2220)
10. Fired Up, Sony, $2,478,381 (avg. $1378)

(You can review last week’s numbers here.)