We may be in a worldwide recession, but that world clearly doesn’t include the realm of mutants with long fingernails, adamantium skeletons, and uncanny poker playing abilities.

“X-men Origins: Wolverine,” directed by Gavin Hood, and starring Hugh Jackman in a prequel reprisal of his role as Marvel Comics character, Wolverine, opened in the top spot in the weekend box office.  It grossed $87 million handily beating out the Matthew McConaughey/Jennifer Garner romantic comedy which made only $15.3 million.

2006′s “X-men: Last Stand,” the third film in the series, holds the franchise record for best opening weekend with $102.8 million. But “Wolverine,” edged out the other two films in the franchise. “X-men” opened at $54.5 million, and “X2: X-Men United” did $85.6 million.

The film’s success lays to rest studio concerns and pundits’ predictions of a poor opening after a workprint (mostly finished but unpolished version) of the movie leaked online.  The unfinished, pirated film was viewed in excess of 200,000 times, but the leak didn’t seem to stifle box office numbers.