New 'Pirates' film pulls in $17 million

"Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End" earned a record $17 million in ticket sales Thursday night, largely in preview screenings.

According to box-office tracking firm Media By Numbers, $3 million of the amount was for midnight showings.

The Walt Disney Co. film, the third in the "Pirates" franchise, is expected to challenge box-office records this weekend. The film is opening in the U.S. and Canada in a record 4,362 theaters.