Universal's sequel Jurassic Park III opened with a roar on Wednesday, grossing a phenomenal $19m in its first day - and indicating that the dinosaur thrill-ride could have the biggest opening of the year and one of the biggest of all time. To indicate its total domination of the market, MGM's Legally Blonde came in at number two for the day with $2.77m.

In comparison, Fox's Independence Day opened on a Tuesday evening and grossed $11.1m that night, followed by $17.3m the next day. In its opening six and half days, it grossed $93m.

The Lost World: Jurassic Park scored $90.1m in its opening four days (Friday to Monday) over Memorial Day weekend in 1997 - and retains the all-time opening record.