Early returns from World War II movie "Fury," starring Brad Pitt opened Friday to strong box office numbers and critical acclaim.

Almost 2,500 theaters staged early weekend releases of Sony Pictures' "Fury" late Thursday, which grossed $1.2 million, easily eclipsing box office takings of "The Book of Life," a Fox animation product with $300,000 at 2,150 theaters and "The Best of Me," a romantic comedy from Relativity, which did $525,000 worth of business.

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"Fury" debuted with a special Washington D.C. showing that attracted Vice President Joe Biden and former Secretary of State Colin Powell, along with an invited audience of World War Two veterans.

The movie cost $68 million to make. Boxoffice.com predicted it would take in $25 million during the entire weekend ending on Oct. 19.

Reviews for "Fury" have been boffo. Rotten Tomatoes gave it a 76 percent positive tomato score. Social media was abuzz with buzz with metrics showing more than 15 million Youtube preview hits and a 41 million combined engagement rating over Facebook, Twitter and Youtube. Engagement stats surpassed those of "The Book of Life" and "The Best of Me" combined.

"Fury" is the tale of a U.S. Sherman tank crew led by Pitt during World War II. It begins with the bloody killing of a German officer by Pitt and continues with what many call a realistic portrayal of tank combat during April 1945. Many critics were comparing it to "Saving Private Ryan."

The film was shot mainly in the English countryside, including Hertfordshire and Oxfordshire. It's named for the tank, called Fury by its crew. Aside from Pitt, the movie also features Shia LaBeouf as "Bible" and Michael Pena as "Gordo." Pitt plays tank commander, Sgt. Don "Wardaddy" Collier.

Critics said Pitt played a character similar to his Army lieutenant in "Inglorious Bastards" from Quentin Tarantino in 2009. However, this Pitt soldier abandons bravado for an introspective demeanor, they said.

Director David Ayer, known for "Training Day" and "Sabotage," was credited with creating a realistic portrayal of tank combat, down to the smells of tank combat and periods of rest followed by short spurts of terror. It's a sophisticated movie with complex production values and dialogue, critics said.

TagsFury, Brad Pitt, David Ayres, The Book of Life, the best of me, Shia LaBeouf, World War Two