Mumbai: Frost/Nixon, Universal Pictures’ new drama, directed by Ron Howard and starring Frank Langella and Michael Sheen, had a remarkable first weekend at the domestic box office. Over the weekend, the film accumulated $180,708 from just three locations in New York City, Los Angeles and Toronto, for a per- screen average of $60,236. This figure gives Frost/Nixon the biggest per- screen debut of any film released in 2008.

"This is a spectacular opening, and we are thrilled with the result," said Universal Pictures president marketing and distribution Adam Fogelson. "Howard, his cast and crew created one of the best films of the year, and it is gratifying that audiences and critics alike are celebrating it with such enthusiasm. We look forward to bringing Frost/Nixon to additional markets through Christmas so audiences everywhere can discover for themselves what has people crowding into these early theaters."

Frost/Nixon will expand to 29 markets on Friday, December 12, before opening wide on Christmas Day.

Critics are also strongly behind the film. Frost/Nixon has a Rotten Tomatoes positive percentage rating of 92% among all critics, and it has scored 95% among top critics.

A Universal Pictures release, Frost/Nixon is the creative collaboration between Imagine Entertainment and Working Title Films, with Oscar winners Brian Grazer  \and Howard joining BAFTA winners Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner as producers of the drama. The film is written by Peter Morgan, who adapted his own successful stage play.