According to local reports Russian film The Oligarch (Oligarkh) has recorded the most successful opening for a local title ever in Russia.

Based loosely on the violent rise to the top of self-exiled tycoon and Kremlin-fixer Boris Berezovsky, the film, directed by Pavel Lounguine and starring local star Vladimir Mashkov (pictured together on set), grossed $353,000 (R 11.2m) on its opening weekend for distributor Karo Premier.

Opening on Thursday Sept 19 the heavily-hyped film played at this year's Locarno International Film Festival in August as well as September's Toronto Film Festival, where it screened under the title Tycoon.

A Russian-French co-production The Oligarch, edged out Russian-French co-production Antikiller which took $340,000 over its launch weekend in early August. The Oligarch cost $5.5m to produce and will also be distributed by Karo Premier in Ukraine.