Fueled by a desire to see the late Paul Walker in his final big screen appearance, fans around the world flocked to see Furious 7 this weekend.
Universal's latest installment of the speed racing franchise destroyed records with a $384 million global debut and becoming the biggest worldwide opening in the history of the studio.
In the U.S. alone, the movie banked $143.6 million, making it the highest-grossing April bow for a film and the ninth biggest movie opening in America ever, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
On top of the world: Furious 7 destroyed the movie competition around the world this weekend, smashing box office records and generating a global box office of $384 million as fans flocked to see Paul Walker's last film
Bittersweet: Universal decided to move ahead with production following Walker's death in 2013 and Vin Diesel, pictured with Walker promoting Fast & Furious in 2009, said the movie would serve as his friend's legacy
'This thing is on fire,' said Phil Contrino, vice president and chief analyst at BoxOffice.com.
'[Walker's] passing made this movie more intriguing for people who hadn't seen some of the installments. It raised awareness and its success is a tribute to him.' he said. 'This is the next member of the billion dollar club and that's a rarefied place to be.'
Furious 7 delivered the biggest opening in the franchise's history and the biggest launch domestically since The Hunger Games: Catching Fire in November 2013.
THR reported Sunday that globally, it is the fourth highest opening of all time behind the final Harry Potter film ($483.2 million), Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince ($394.4 million) and The Avengers ($392.5 million).
The film's foreign gross of $240.4 million makes it the third biggest international opening of all time.
Computer wizardry: Paul had already shot scenes for the latest installment of the speed racing franchise before he died and the film was completed using stand-ins and CGI
Walker was halfway through filming Furious 7 when he was killed in a solo car crash on November 30, 2013, at the age of 40.
Director James Wan, franchise star Vin Diesel and producers decided to push ahead with the production in memory of Walker and were able to complete the film using the late actor's two brothers as body doubles and elaborate CGI by Peter Jackson's WETA effects house completed the process.
At the action-packed film's Hollywood premiere last week, Diesel, in tears, told the huge crowd of fans assembled outside the Chinese Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard: 'This movie is more than a movie. You'll feel it when you see it. Something emotional happens to you.'
Producer Neal Moritz, who has worked on each franchise installment since 2001's The Fast And The Furious, described Walker as 'the most decent, thoughtful, caring human being I have ever met. Losing him was a blow to all of us.'
Moritz told fans that Walker would be proud of the final product.
'I know Paul is smiling down on us right now, said Moritz at the film's premiere on April 1. 'We love you forever, Paul. And you will always be a part of all of us.'
Tribute: Diesel told a huge crowd gathered for the Furious 7 premiere in Hollywood last week: 'This movie is more than a movie. You'll feel it when you see it. Something emotional happens to you.'
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