Wonder Woman breaks box office records for female director

Wonder Woman has broken box office records for a female director after grossing more than $100.5m (£77m) in its opening weekend in the US.

Patty Jenkins, who also directed Monster, surpassed the previous record held by Sam Taylor-Johnson for Fifty Shades of Grey, which made $93m (£72m) in its opening weekend in 2015.

According to the Hollywood Reporter the film, which stars Israeli actor Gal Gadot as Amazonian warrior Diana, is "a defining moment for Hollywood's gender problem" and has also been a global success, raking in a further $122.5m (£95m) from 55 countries.

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It "earned rapturous reviews", adds the site, and is proving "a much-needed critical win for Warners and DC Entertainment" after its early superhero films Man of Steel and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice were largely snubbed.

"Talk about a woman's touch at the box office", says Anthony D'Alessandro on Deadline Hollywood. The success of Wonder Woman has boosted overall box office figures for this summer and Warner Brothers' executives are understandably glowing, he continues.

Distribution chief Jeff Goldstein said the film "just resonated with fans", adding: "There's something iconic about Diana and the story of Wonder Woman that's hitting the zeitgeist perfectly."

John Fithian, head of the National Association of Theatre Owners, said he welcomed the day female-led films were the norm.

He said: "We really look forward to is the day when a movie directed by a woman and telling a woman’s story is no longer news because it was successful – or even that it was produced at all.

Such films "should be a matter of routine", he added.

A follow-up now seems inevitable and discussions have already started about what it will contain.

Movie Web reports that both Gadot and Jenkins have signed up for a sequel, which is bound to happen "sooner rather than later".

Entertainment Week adds that Jenkins has revealed that the sequel would be set in the US.

She said: "The story will take place in the US, which I think is right.

"She's Wonder Woman. She's got to come to America. It's time."