Shutter Island

This R-rated thriller, directed by Martin Scorsese & starring Leonardo DiCaprio, sold an estimated $40.2 million in tickets, according to Hollywood.com, which compiles box office statistics. In limited release overseas “Shutter Island,” which cost $75 million to make (after deducting tax rebates from Massachusetts, where the film was shot), sold an additional $9.1 million, according to Paramount.

LOS ANGELES — The bet worked: “Shutter Island,” yanked from the fall release schedule by a cost-cutting Paramount Pics, arrived in theaters on Friday & was a strong No. 1 at the North American box office.

The robust result for “Shutter Island” validates Paramount’s decision in August to abandon the film’s initial release date of Oct. 2, though a promotion campaign was already well under way. The delay irritated fans & knocked the film out of contention for the 2009 Academy Awards.

“We have never felt more pressure about an opening,” said Rob Moore, Paramount’s vice chairman. “Everyone was standing over us to see if the decision was a nice four. Luckily, the result was phenomenal.”

Neither Mr. Scorsese nor Mr. DiCaprio has had an opening this gigantic, even when adjusted for inflation. The previous high-water mark for Mr. Scorsese was “The Departed,” which sold about $27 million over its first four days in 2006. Mr. DiCaprio’s previous record was the 2002 comedic drama “Catch Me if You Can,” which had a $30 million opening.

Hollywood was as surprised by the delay — since it seemed to push around a power player like Mr. Scorsese — as it was by Paramount’s frank explanation. The studio said it basically could not afford to release the movie in the fourth quarter because of an industry-wide slump in DVD sales, among other financial concerns.

Exit polls for “Shutter Island” showed the audience was equal parts male & female & of a wide age range, a rarity for an R-rated picture as well as a nice omen for sales in the weeks ahead. The movie, which received mixed reviews, is based on a Dennis Lehane novel & focuses on a mystery at a hospital for the criminally insane.

The ensemble comedy “Valentine’s Day” (Warner Brothers) was second for the weekend with about $17.2 million for a new total of $87.4 million. “Avatar” (20th Century Fox) continued to chug away in third place, selling about $16.1 million in tickets for a new total of $687.8 million.

“Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief” (Fox) was fourth with about $15.3 million ($58.8 million total). The expensive thriller “The Wolfman” (Universal Pics) fell sharply in its second week to fifth place with about $9.8 million ($50 million total.)