Comparing On Stranger Tides with its swashbuckled brethren should illuminate this point.  In 2006, the second film in the series, Dead Man's Chest, had the biggest opening with a huge $135.6 million.  Director Gore Verbinski's initial trilogy concluded with At World's End, which earned 114.7 over three days back in 2007.  The very first film, Curse of the Black Pearl, proved to be a surprise hit in 2003; its five-day opening was worth $70.6 million.  So while that first film still doesn't stack up against its successors receipts, everything subsequent to Dead Man's Chest has fit the old wisdom of diminished returns.

As Box Office Mojo helpfully indicates, this was also the first Pirates adventure to benefit from being released in 3D, and on a record-breaking number of 3D and IMAX screens, no less.  Even with the extra padding afforded by the increased 3D ticket prices, as well as being on more screens, the first weekend of this Pirates bested Fast Five by about $5 million.  That film fell to fourth place in its fourth weekend, bringing in and estimated $10.6 million to bring its cumulative total to $186 million.

America's one thing, but let's not forget the rest of the world.  On Stranger Tides has been cleaning up in international markets.  Across 70-odd territories, new director Rob Marshall's sequel has pulled in an estimated $256.3 million, meaning the film has earned a global total of $346.4 million.  This follows the pattern established at the beginning of May by Thor, the Marvel series-starter that performed perfectly well Stateside, but was bolstered by strong international numbers.

In second place, a comedy written by and starring Kristen Wiig continued to exceed expectations, as Bridesmaids is projected to have lost only 20% of its audience from last weekend.  $21 million in estimated earnings brought the Paul Feig-directed/Judd Apatow-produced comedy to a ten-day total of $59.5 million. 

In third place behind Bridesmaids is the aforementioned Thor, which held the number one spot in the two weekends prior.  Over 17 days, the film, which stars Chris Hemsworth as the God of Thunder, has brought in $145.4 million.  This weekend accounted for a projected $15.5 million of that none-too shabby total.  Not bad for a character without the wide recognition of a Spider-Man, Superman, or Batman.

The 3D animated musical Rio followed fellow Rio de Janerio-set adventure Fast Five in fifth place.  Rio pulled in an estimated $4.65 million.  That puts it ahead of the post-apocalyptic 3D actioner Priest, which earned an estimated $4.6 million.  Keep in mind, however, that since the figures involved are pretty close, the actual grosses could show the two wildly different films to have swapped spots on the list.

Same goes for Jumping the Broom and Something Borrowed, which are projected to be in seventh and eighth place, respectively.  Broom's 3.7 million estimate places it only $300,000 ahead of Borrowed.  The two wedding-themed comedies have been doing this dance for the last three weekends, despite the greater star power and more ubiquitous marketing of Something Borrowed.

Water for Elephants brought its five week total to $52.4 million by adding an estimated $2.1 million in eight place.  Tyler Perry's Madea's Big Happy Family followed it up in the ten spot, with just under $1 million in projected receipts.  Also in its fifth weekend, the latest drag-tastic drama/comedy from Perry has grossed $51.7 million.

1. Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides            $90.1 million         New Release

2. Bridesmaids                                                                 $21.0 million         $59.5 million

3. Thor                                                                             $15.5 million         $145.4 million

4. Fast Five                                                                      $10.6 million         $186.2 million

5. Rio                                                                               $4.65 million         $131.6 million

6. Priest                                                                           $4.6 million           $23.6 million

7. Jumping the Broom                                                     $3.7 million           $31.3 million

8. Something Borrowed                                                  $3.4 million           $31.4 million

9. Water for Elephants                                                    $2.1 million           $52.4 million

10. Madea's Big Happy Family                                        $990,000               $51.7 million

Outside the top ten, Woody Allen's latest, Midnight in Paris, opened in limited release at six theaters.  Its projected $579,000 in earnings put it in twelfth place.  That's a per-theater average of $96,500, which is almost unheard-of.

Next week will see a battle royale of comedy sequels, with Kung Fu Panda and The Hangover Part II going head to head at a theater near you.