HOLLYWOOD -- 'Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom' grossed $42.2 million in its first six days of release, breaking several box-office records including the biggest one-day take in movie history, Paramount Pictures announced Tuesday.
'Indiana Jones' conquered 'Return of the Jedi' for the single highest grossing day. The $9.3 million collected by 'Indiana Jones' last Sunday overcame 'Jedi's' mark of $8.4 million.
'Jedi,' the third film in the blockbuster 'Star Wars' series, also held the old record for the six-day Memorial Day weekend, grossing $41.1 million last year.
Although both films opened on the Wednesday before the holiday weekend, 'Indiana Jones' played at 1,687 theaters, compared to 'Jedi's' 1,002 screens.
Paramount, which is distributing the Steven Spielberg-George Lucas film, refused to disclose 'Indiana Jones'' opening day gross, but a reliable independent source quoted the first-day take as $4.7 million.
'Return of the Jedi,' by comparison, collected $6.2 million its first day in release and retains the opening day record.
'Indiana Jones' also set a four-day weekend record with its gross of $33.9 million from Friday through Monday, beating the 'Jedi' record of $30.4 million.
Industry analysts suggested that reviews criticizing 'Indiana Jones'' graphic violence may have kept audiences away at first, but that positive word of mouth caused the film to make its dramatic, record-breaking comeback.
Both movies were produced by Lucasfilm, but 20th Century Fox distributed 'Jedi.'
'Raiders of the Lost Ark,' which preceded 'Indiana Jones,' grossed $8.2 million when it opened on a three-day weekend in 1981.
'The Natural,' Robert Redford's baseball saga, was dwarfed by 'Indiana Jones'' debut, but managed a respectable second place showing of $6.9 million for the four-day holiday weekend. 'The Natural,' which held the top spot in its first two weekends, has so far grossed $21.5 million.
'Breakin',' a low-budget teen musical about the breakdance craze, slipped one notch to third place, grossing $4.1 million for a 25-day total of $23.1 million.
'Romancing the Stone' also dropped one rung to fourth place, collecting $4 million and $54.1 million after two months.
'Sixteen Candles,' a teen comedy about mishaps at a Sweet 16 birthday party, jumped one notch to fifth, with $2.89 million.
'Police Academy' dipped to No. 6, with $2.81 million and $69.5 million after 10 weeks.
'Firestarter' lost some heat, flickering to seventh and $2.4 million in its third weekend.
'Splash' swam back into the Top 10, grossing $2.1 million for eighth place andan 81-day total of $61 million.
'Footloose' stayed at ninth, earning $1.9 million for $71.9 million after 102 days.
'Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes' rounded out the Top 10, with $1.4 million and a two-month total of $41.4 million.
