‘Batman v Superman’ off to a powerful start with a $27.7-million showing on Thursday

The $250-million movie “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” is off to a strong start as it begins its conquest at the multiplex.

“Batman v Superman” grossed $27.7 million from Thursday night pre-shows in the U.S. and Canada, according to studio estimates. That sets the record for the highest Thursday preshow for an Easter weekend, beating last year’s “Furious 7” ($15.8 million).

Screenings began at 6 p.m.

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The Zack Snyder-directed epic, starring Henry Cavill as Superman/Clark Kent and Ben Affleck as Batman/Bruce Wayne, is expected to become a much-needed hit for Warner Bros. after the studio’s recent box-office slump.

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Before Thursday’s numbers were released, analysts had expected “Batman v Superman” to take in roughly $150 million in the U.S. and Canada through Sunday, which would be considered a strong debut.

Warner Bros. is hoping for big numbers from “Batman v Superman,” the first big test of Kevin Tsujihara’s plan to make at least 10 DC Comics superhero movies over the next 10 years. The Warner Bros. team is trying to lay the foundation for a shared universe of characters including Wonder Woman, Aquaman and Cyborg.

Responses have been mostly negative from critics, though The Times gave the film a generally favorable review.

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