Fahrenheit 9/11 sets documentary record

Director Michael Moore's Fahrenheit 9/11 took in a whopping $21.8m (€17.9m) in its first three days, becoming the first documentary ever to debut as America's top weekend film.

The controversial movie also set a new record as the top-grossing documentary ever, outside of concert films and movies made for huge-screen IMAX theatres.

And, the revenue from two New York City cinemas - where Fahrenheit 9/11 opened on Wednesday, two days earlier than the rest of the US - increased the film's haul to $21.96 million (18.m).

Bowling for Columbine, Moore's 2002 OSCAR-winning factual film, previously held the documentary record with $21.6 million (£12 million).

Fahrenheit 9/11, an assault on American President George W Bush's actions after the 2001 terrorist attacks, won the top honour at last month's Cannes film festival and has attracted attention from both sides in the presidential campaign.