The franchise's “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides” picks up an estimated $256.3 million in its first weekend in more than 100 countries abroad, compared to a $90.1 million in the U.S. and Canada.

The fourth entry in the Johnny Depp-starring "Pirates" series raked in $256.3 million on its first weekend in more than 100 foreign countries, according to an estimate from Walt Disney Studios.

That's the biggest international debut of all time for a film.

It more than made up for a softer-than-expected $90.1-million launch in the U.S. and Canada. The total worldwide tally was a huge $346.4 million; the film enjoyed the all-time biggest openings in Latin America, the Middle East and Russia, according to Disney.

"On Stranger Tides" could end up collecting a total of $1 billion, easily justifying the more than $400 million Disney spent on production and advertising.

3-D appears not to have been a big draw for domestic audiences, Los Angeles Times reports.

The film debuted in Yerevan on May 20.