'Two Towers' Has $26M Opening Day

The "one ring to rule them all" is ruling the box office again.

According to the film's distributor New Line Cinema, the second chapter in the "Lord of the Rings" film trilogy, "The Two Towers," took in an estimated $26 million at the North American box office on its opening day Wednesday.

That's 44 percent more than the $18 million the first chapter "The Fellowship of the Ring" took in on its opening in Mid-December last year. In addition, the studio said, the film took in $16 million Wednesday in 14 other countries including Great Britain, France, Germany and Spain.

Directed by Peter Jackson, the big screen adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien's classic book trilogy finds Frodo Baggins (Elijah Wood), a small human-like creature called a hobbit, entrusted with destroying a powerful ring that could enslave the world if it falls into the wrong hands.

"The Two Towers" also stars Ian McKellen, Viggo Mortensen, Orlando Bloom, Liv Tyler, Sean Astin, John Rhys-Davies and legendary British actor Christopher Lee.

"The Fellowship of the Ring" went on to gross over $313 million at the box office during its theatrical run. It also was nominated for 13 Oscars, and won four.

"The Two Towers" received a Golden Globe nomination Thursday for Best Picture -- Drama.