Despite negative reviews, Sex and the City ranked as the top movie this weekend, pulling in over $55.7 million and far exceeding industry estimates of a $25-35 million opening gross, Reuters reported.

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull – which was No. 1 over Memorial Day weekend – dropped to second place, earning $46 million.

SATC's haul made it the best R-rated comedy opening in history, surpassing 1999's American Pie. (Among all R-rated films, it comes in at No. 5.)

Women accounted for 85% of the SATC audience on its opening night, Warner Brothers said.

"Women are great planners and they definitely wanted a girls' night out," Dan Fellman, president of distribution, told Reuters.

The Strangers, starring Liv Tyler, came in at No. 3 with $20.7 million.