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5:00 AM PDT, July 4, 2011
Opened: 2003 Made: $44 million
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10. Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines

Warner Bros.
Opened: 2003 Made: $44 million
9. Independence Day

20th Century Fox
Opened: 1996 Made: $50.2 million
8. Men in Black

Columbia Pictures
Opened: 1997 Made: $51 million
7. Men in Black II

Sony
Opened: 2002 Made: $52.1 million
6. Superman Returns

Warner Bros.
Opened: 2006 Made: $52.5 million
5. Hancock

Columbia Pictures
Opened: 2008 Made: $63 million
4. The Twilight Saga: Eclipse

Summit Entertainment
Opened: 2010 Made: $65 million
3. War of the Worlds

Amblin Entertainment
Opened: 2005 Made: $64.8 million
2. Transformers

Paramount
Opened: 2007 Made: $70.5 million
1. Spider-Man 2

Sony Pictures
Opened: 2004 Made: $88.2 million
Record July 4 Openings

20th Century Fox
Many Americans are following a long held July 4 tradition by escaping the heat and heading for cool movie theaters on one of the biggest film weekends of the year. Check out these past flicks that blew up the box office just as fireworks were lighting up the night sky!