Box Office Shocker: 'Hangover 2' on Track to Open North of $100 Million at U.S. Box Office

Warner Bros.

"The Hangover Part II"

Todd Phillips’ The Hangover Part II is tracking so well it’s widely expected to become the first movie in months to open north of $100 million at the domestic box office.

The R-rated sequel, from Warner Bros. and Legendary Pictures, has the advantage of a four-day weekend because of Memorial Day, and is giving itself an additional day of play by opening on Thursday at 12:01 a.m.

Hangover Part II popped up on tracking several weeks ago, garnering more interest overall than Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, which probably didn’t make Disney brass too happy. On Stranger Tides opened to $90.1 million domestically over the weekend, but made up ground overseas, where it earned a record-breaking $260.4 million.

Tracking for Hangover Part II isn’t slowing down any, either, causing some box office observers to predict that it could even debut north of $120 million domestically for the extended weekend.

No R-rated film has ever opened to $100 million or greater. And with the domestic box office in a slump, the last film to open to $100 million or more was Warners' Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I last November ($125.3 million).

Phillips’ sequel opens two years after the original Hangover took the box office by storm, becoming the highest grossing R-rated comedy of all time, earning $277.3 million domestically and $190.2 million internationally (where American comedies often don’t travel).

Hangover Part II is making a major international push this weekend as well, opening day and date in roughly 40 territories, including in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, France, Italy, Germany, Mexico, Russia, Spain and the U.K.

It’s also opening in Thailand — where the movie takes place. The sequel reunites stars Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis, Justin Bartha and Ken Jeong. Mike Tyson also returns.