LOS ANGELES (AP) – “Spider-Man 2” took in $40.5 million in its first day, a record debut that positions the film to beat more box-office highs through the Fourth of July weekend.

Paul Dergarabedian, president of box-office tracker Exhibitor Relations, said Thursday that “Spider-Man 2” could go on to shatter other debut records, including the best three-day weekend of $114.8 million for “Spider-Man.”

Ticket sales Wednesday surpassed the previous debut record of $39.4 million that the original “Spider-Man” grossed in its first day two years ago.

The opening-day figure for “Spider-Man 2” was even more remarkable since it came on a Wednesday, when business is slower than on weekends. The first “Spider-Man” debuted on a Friday.

The best previous debut for a movie opening on Wednesday was $34.5 million last December for “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.”