Disney’s fantasy romp starring Angelina Jolie stormed into the UK on May 28 ahead of a 47-market weekend invasion that will face off with Fox International’s proven juggernaut X-Men: Days Of Future Past.

Maleficent grossed an estimated $2.5m (£1.5m) on opening day in the UK to set a new high-water mark for Jolie.

The film also scored new opening day records for the star in Italy and the Philippines, although Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures International (WDSMPI) executives did not provide numbers for the latter two markets.

The film is set to open day-and-date with North America this weekend in 13,011 theatres across 47 territories, a bold sweep that encompasses Mexico, Brazil, Australia, France, Germany, Spain and South Korea.

Maleficent is set to arrive in China on June 20 and Japan on July 4.

The UK debut grossed more than that of Captain America: The Winter Soldier, more than double that of Oz The Great And Powerful in March 2013 and exceeded the opening day of Snow White And The Huntsman by a factor of 2.5m. That film opened in the same weekend slot on June 1 2012.

WDSMPI top brass told Screendaily that as of May 28, Captain America: The Winter Soldier had amassed $453.9m.

Meanwhile X-Men: Days Of Future Past has raced to $251m through Fox International and is expected to enjoy a mighty second session and put up a fight to hold on to the international box office crown.

Last weekend the superhero smash set the biggest international launch of 2014 so far and overtook the $165m December 2009 debut of Avatar to establish a new record for Fox International. It arrives in four new Asian markets this weekend including Japan.

Wes Anderson’s The Grand Budapest Hotel crossed $100m last weekend and stands at $100.6m. Rio 2 has grossed more than $330.6m.

Universal Pictures International could make a splash when executives unleash the Seth MacFarlane comedy Western A Million Ways To Die In The West day-and-date with North America in around 22 territories. Highlights are expected from the UK, Australia, Germany and Scandinavia.

By the end of last weekend Warner Bros and Legendary Pictures’ Godzilla had stormed to $185m internationally through Warner Bros Pictures International and more than $300m worldwide.

Edge Of Tomorrow, the sci-fi adventure starring Tom Cruise and Emily Blunt, opens in the UK, Germany, Italy and Spain.

Sony Pictures Releasing International’s (SPRI) The Amazing Spider-Man 2 has reached $492m.

SPRI chiefs have lined up Escape From Planet Earth for Germany and Austria and launch US faith-based hit Heaven Is For Real in the UK.

Divergent has amassed more than $118.3m through Lionsgate International and stands at more than $226.4m worldwide. Transcendence stands at more than $55.9m and $78.8m worldwide.