'Bridget Jones: Crazy About That Boy' has exceeded UK box office expectations, becoming the best performing romantic film in the UK on its opening weekend.

The fourth instalment in Helen Fielding's adventures of the wayward writer earned $14.9 million in its four-day opening weekend, surpassing all three previous installments. The second installment 'Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason' was the previous record holder with $8.1 million, the Guardian reported.

It was also the best debut weekend for British production company Working Title Film and above the debut weekend of 'Oppenheimer', another recent hit for Universal, the Hollywood studio that distributed 'Bridget Jones: Crazy About That Boy'.

The film marked Universal's 11th-best opening, just behind 'Jurassic World Dominion'.

The comedy, which opened alongside new titles such as 'Captain America: Brave New World', accounted for 45% of revenue at the U.K. box office over the weekend. Everyman achieved the biggest three-day opening in its history, bettering the record previously set by the last James Bond film, Death Can Wait.

Although it was reported last week that pre-sales had surpassed those of 'Barbie', Michael Morris' fourquel ultimately failed to reach the £18.5m enjoyed by Greta Gerwig's satire.

The film 'Bridget Jones: Mad About That Boy', in which Renée Zellweger's character is now a widow with two young children and chooses between her suitors Leo Woodall and Chiwetel Ejiofor, also started strongly in territories such as Australia and Mexico, as well as in Europe. In the U.S., however, the film has been released directly for streaming via Peacock. | BGNES