Critics be damned: Fans flock to Da Vinci Code : Mail & Guardian Online

Ten spyte van swak resensies vaar die rolprent The Da Vinci Code uitstekend by die lokket.

The Da Vinci Code scored $224-million worldwide and topped the North American box office in its weekend debut as the controversial film overcame bad reviews and calls for boycotts, early figures showed on Sunday.

The film, highly anticipated by fans of Dan Brown's best-selling novel and vigorously criticised by religious groups, raked in $77-million dollars in North America, according to box office tracker Exhibitor Relations.

Around the world, director Ron Howard's $125-million thriller, starring Tom Hanks, raked in an estimated $224-million, Exhibitor Relations said.