The final installment in the science-fiction Matrix movie trilogy topped the North American box- office and grossed a revolutionary $204 million worldwide through its first weekend, making it the biggest global film opening of all time, Warner Bros. studio reported.

Rolling out simultaneously on a record 18,000 screens in the United States, Canada and 94 other countries, The Matrix Revolutions surpassed the banner debut of The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, which raked in roughly $188 million worldwide in its first five days of release in December 2002. The robust start to the latest special effects-driven action thriller starring Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss and Laurence Fishburne ensured the trilogy?s place as one of the biggest franchises in cinematic history. The first two films ? The Matrix and The Matrix Reloaded ? have already grossed nearly $1.2 billion combined in worldwide ticket sales. Matrix Reloaded still stands as the biggest domestic debut ever for an R-rated film ? grossing nearly $92 million during its first weekend ? and ranks as the second-biggest movie opening of all time behind last year?s Spider-Man debut, at $115 million.