2017 Film

'It' breaks box office records with monster opening weekend

The new adaptation of Stephen King's classic novel brought in an estimated $117.1 million for Warner Bros. and New Line Cinema at the North American box office this weekend, its first in theaters.

That is the largest opening for a film debuting in September, nearly $70 million more than the previous record. According to Warner Bros., it is also the largest opening for a horror movie ever.

"It" was also the third biggest opening of the year. Only Disney's "Beauty and the Beast" and Marvel's "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2" did better in their first weekends.

Ian McKellen calls 'Beauty and the Beast' gay controversy 'rubbish'

"People who don't like the idea of gay characters appearing in fairy stories should think what they would think if they were gay themselves and why should they be excluded?" McKellen told CNN at the film's New York premiere Monday.