‘Spider-Man 2’ snatches record take at box office

“Spider-Man 2” pulled in a record $180 million in its first six days and obliterated other box-office highs over the long Fourth of July weekend.

That total was well above the previous best six-day opening of $146.7 million set last year by “The Matrix Reloaded.”

“Spider-Man 2” took in an estimated $115.8 million from Friday to Monday. That put it far ahead of the previous best four-day holiday gross of $95.6 million set by “Shrek 2” over Memorial Day weekend this year.

From Friday to Sunday, “Spider-Man 2” took in $88.3 million, missing out on the best three-day weekend record of $114.8 million held by the first “Spider-Man.” But the first movie opened on Friday, so its initial business all came on the weekend, while the sequel already had rung up about $64 million in ticket sales Wednesday and Thursday.

Michael Moore’s “Fahrenheit 9/11” fell to second place with $21 million over the four-day weekend, raising its total to $60.1 million. Moore’s assault on President Bush’s response to the Sept. 11 attacks could become the first documentary ever to top $100 million.

Hollywood had a record Fourth of July weekend, with the top 12 movies taking in $158.5 million from Friday to Sunday, beating 2002’s previous high of $139 million.