Shrek the Third breaks US box office animation records

The third Shrek movie has shattered the opening weekend record for an animated film after raking in over $122m (€90m) at the U.S. box office.

Shrek the Third has exceeded expert expectations by scoring the third-biggest opening of all time - easily taking over the US number one spot from another second sequel, Spider-Man 3.

Analysts expected the film to gross between $80m (€60m) and $110m (€82m), but the film streaked past the record set by Shrek 2 to make animation history.

Spider-Man 3, which set box office records earlier this month (May07), slipped to number two with a healthy third-weekend take of $28.5m (€11m).

Spider-Man 3 retains its title for biggest box office opening at $151.1m (€112m), while Pirates of the Caribbean sequel Dead Man's Chest comes in second with $135.6m (€1010).

The third Pirates film is set to challenge the record books when it opens in U.S. cinemas this Friday.