Universal’s local comedy acheives eighth biggest opening weekend of all-time for an Irish comedy at the Irish box office.

Having premiered at the Jameson Dublin International Film Festival, The Hardy Bucks Movie has performed strongly on its debut in Ireland.

The comedy grossed €176,887 ($232,000), including previews, from its 57 sites in Ireland to become the week’s highest new entry and rank second in the Irish box office, behind Wreck-It Ralph.

David Burke, general manager of Universal Pictures International Ireland, said: “We are over the moon with the success of The Hardy Bucks Movie at the Irish box office. The lads have produced a fantastically funny film that has proved their wide appeal and the fact that there is a huge appetite for Irish comedy on the big screen.”

Its debut surpassed that of recent Irish films at the local box office - What Richard Did (€57,402) and Grabbers (€30,074) - and ranks as the eighth biggest ever for an Irish comedy, a field led by The Guard’s €433,010.

From its opening alone, The Hardy Bucks Movie already ranks within the top ten Irish comedies of all-time.

The Hardy Bucks Movie was supported by the Irish Film Board and Universal, and is based on television series that spawned from a YouTube video.

Directed by Mike Cockayne, it follows the titular characters on a holiday abroad.