FIRST it was the book that hit the milestone figure of 200000 copies sold, and now the movie version, which opened at the weekend, seems to be following suit by scoring big at the box office.

Figures released by the producers yesterday confirm that Spud dominated the local box office this weekend when it soared to the number one slot, earning close to R2,9million in the first three days.

This, the producers said, made it the highest grossing opening weekend ever for a South African film outside of four Leon Schuster films. It is also the second highest opening weekend for a local film in 2010, just behind the record-breaking Schucks Tshabalala's Guide To SA.

Producer Ross Garland said: "We are so excited by the enthusiasm shown by South African audiences. It is truly proof of the coming-of-age appeal of John van de Ruit's books as well as the talents and efforts of both the filmmakers and the cast."

Spud is set in South Africa during the early 1990s and chronicles John "Spud" Milton's first year at an elite, boys-only private school.