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The opening weekend of the animated film Incredibles 2 was incredible.

The Disney-Pixar movie recorded a North American opener of $180 million. That is the best of all time for an animated film. It beat the earlier record of the 2016 Pixar hit Finding Dory.

Internationally, Incredibles 2 collected another $51.5 million, bring its worldwide total to $231.5 million.

The first Incredibles film came out in 2004. It was a major success among moviegoers and film critics. Excitement for the sequel has been strong.

Film business expert Paul Dergarbedian said the film "shows the drawing power of the superhero genre, whether in the live action or animated" kind.

Disney's head of distribution, Cathleen Taff, credits the huge opening weekend to the long wait for another Incredibles film.

Incredibles 2 picks up directly following the events of the earlier film. Members of the Parr family continue to try to have a normal life even with their superpowers. Holly Hunter, Craig T. Nelson, Sarah Vowell, and Samuel L. Jackson return in their voice roles. Bob Odenkirk, Catherine Keener, and Sophia Bush voice new characters. Brad Bird returned to write and direct the sequel.

Incredibles 2 has the third-biggest opening of 2018 so far. The top two -- Black Panther and Avengers: Infinity War -- were also Disney productions.

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Reuters reported this story. Ashley Thompson adapted it for VOA Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor.

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animated - adj. produced by the creation of a series of drawings, pictures, etc., that are shown quickly one after another

incredible - adj. extremely good, great, or large

sequel - n. a book, movie, etc., that continues a story begun in another book, movie, etc.

genre - n. a particular type or category of literature or art

distribution - n. the act of delivering something to a store or business

role - n. the character played by an actor

character - n. a person who appears in a story, book, play, movie, or television show