Miley Cyrus Scores Big at Friday B.O. with 'HANNAH MONTANA' Debut

Miley Cyrus ruled the box office once again in her second bow on the big screen as Disney's "Hannah Montana: The Movie" broke records with a $17.1 million opening on Friday April 10th.

Variety reports that the opening day splash beat the $8.7 million first day of last year's "Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert Tour".

Hannah Montana: The Movie" also scored an all-time record for a G-rated live action opening, nudging out the $17 million earned by the Disney's "High School Musical 3: Senior Year" last fall on its first Friday. "Hannah Montana: The Movie" was released in 3,118 theaters on Friday April 10th.

Miley Cyrus is a Golden Globe and Critic's Choice Award-nominated American singer, actress, and best-selling author. Cyrus is better known for starring as Miley Stewart/Hannah Montana in the television series Hannah Montana on the Disney Channel.

Cyrus became a pop sensation after Hannah Montana debuted in March 2006. Following the success of the show, in October 2006, a soundtrack CD was released in which she sang eight songs from the show. Cyrus' solo music career began with the release of her debut album, Meet Miley Cyrus on June 23, 2007. Her second album, Breakout was released on July 22, 2008. Breakout is Cyrus' first album that does not involve the Hannah Montana franchise. Both albums debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200.

Press notes state, "Director Peter Chelsom takes the Disney Channel phenomenon to the big screen in a feature film extravaganza. Miley Stewart (Miley Cyrus) struggles to juggle school, friends and her secret pop-star persona; when Hannah Montana's soaring popularity threatens to take over her life - she just might let it. So her father (Billy Ray Cyrus) takes the teen home to Crowley Corners, Tenn., for a dose of reality, kicking off an adventure filled with the kind of fun, laughter and romance even Hannah Montana couldn't imagine!"

Melora Hardin, star of the hit NBC comedy "The Office," who made her recent Broadway stage debut this past winter as fame-hungry murderess Roxie Hart in the Tony Award-winning smash hit musical CHICAGO, also stars in the film as the love interest of Billy Ray Cyrus. Best known to television audiences for her role as Jan Levenson, Steve Carell's rigid former-boss and love interest on NBC's "The Office," Melora Hardin's impressive career spans a variety of mediums, including numerous television series, several films, two CDs, live concerts... and now Broadway. In addition to her television work on "The Office," Hardin is also known for portraying Tony Shaloub's dead wife in the hit USA Network series "Monk." On the big screen, she will next star in the film Seventeen Again, opposite Zac Efron, which is slated for theatrical release later this month, April 2009.

Below are some of the highlights of the films big debut.

Best Opening Day of All-time for a G-rated Live-action Film
"Hannah Montana: The Movie" beats the $17 million earned by Disney's "High School Musical 3: Senior Year" on its first day.

Second-best First Day for a Family Film (PG or G rated) Bowing prior to Summer
"Hannah Montana" ranks behind "Ice Age: The Meltdown's" $21.8 million Friday and ahead of "Monsters vs. Aliens'" $16.8 million Friday.

Second-best Friday Bow during Easter Weekend
"Hannah Montana" ranks behind "Scary Movie 4's" $19 million opening day.

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