When it unspools for 1,600 midnight showings tonight, the superhero actioner Watchmen will have already broken one record: it is opening at 3,611 theaters tomorrow, the most for an R-rated film.

Compare that to the 656 midnight shows that put director Zack Snyder on the map exactly two years ago with his film 300. That sword-and-sandal epic earned $28 million the first day and $71 million the opening weekend. Look for this one to do about double that number.

Like Watchmen, 300 was a graphic novel adaptation.

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