SahamongkolfilmInternational's martial arts flick TomYum Goong has smashed box office records in both Thailand and Hong Kong onits opening weekend.

The US$8mpicture, a follow up to Ong Bak thatreunites director Prachya Pinkaew and action star Tony Jaa, has grossed amassive $2.4m (THB98m) after four days of release on a record 243 screens inBangkok alone, according to Sahamongkofilm.

It also tookthe second highest opening ever on $0.48m, just beating 2001's Thai historicalepic The Legend of Suriyothai whichscored $0.47m on its first day. It wenton to score higher on its second day with $0.77m, breaking all records for asingle day release.

The picture isset to be this year's highest grossing film. The top earner so far is Thaislapstick comedy Luang Pee Teng with$3.44m, which is also the fourth highest grossing local film in Thaihistory.

In Hong Kong, Tom Yum Goong, released through EdkoFilms, opened at the top of the box office chart with US$152,656, making it thebest opening for a Thai film in the territory. The previous record was held by Iron Ladies' $122,279. Tom Yum Goong grossed $660,599 on 42screens over the opening weekend, slightly ahead of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory which collected $625,603.

Tom Yum Goong,which garnered $15m in presales, will roll out in Korea through Showbox andMediaplex on 18 August and in Taiwan through New Action and 20thCentury Fox on 19 August.

Earlier this month, the Weinstein Company announced it had picked up US and multiple territory rights to the film.