Fast & Furious 9 is set to break the pandemic-era box office record in the United States after a huge opening this weekend.

The latest film in the record-breaking franchise hit cinemas worldwide this week, coming out in the UK on Thursday (June 24) and in the States the following day.

• READ MORE: ‘Fast & Furious 9’ review: slick but safe sequel never reaches top gear

According to Variety, the Vin Diesel and Michelle Rodriguez-starring movie made $30million (£21.6m) across over 4,000 cinemas on its opening day, and is currently heading for an intake of $68m (£49m) on opening weekend.

The pandemic-era record at the US box office is currently held by A Quiet Place Part II, which opened with a first weekend haul of $48million (£34m), going on to become the first film to surpass $100million (£72m) in US ticket sales since COVID-19 hit early last year.

In a new interview with NME, Fast & Furious 9 star John Cena said he didn’t realise that a meeting he had with Vin Diesel was his audition for the new film.

He added: “For one reason or another, Vin wanted to get together and talk, and after a lengthy conversation, I got an invite to the Fast family. Of course it would be something I’d want to do, but the question is how would I even go about it?”

Expanding on the reasons for his meeting with Vin Diesel, Cena told NME: “He never once said. I loved our time together… I was hanging out with Vin Diesel! It was really cool!”

Watch the full interview below.

Reviewing the new film, NME wrote: “It all accelerates towards a genuinely thrilling finale that pivots between full-throttle action and intense sentimentality, making Fast & Furious 9 feel a bit like a bear hug from your gruff older brother after you’ve nearly chucked up on a roller coaster.

“Like so many things in the F&F franchise, it shouldn’t work but somehow does. Here’s to the next billion dollars at the box office.”

‘Fast & Furious 9’ is in UK cinemas now