From MTV NEWS: "For months a hotbed of controversy, "Fahrenheit 9/11" is now the hottest film in theaters.

Despite the fact that it was only projected onto screens in 868 theaters across the country — almost three times less than the other nine films in the box-office top 10 — "Fahrenheit 9/11" easily took the #1 spot in its opening week, and broke a box-office record, according to early estimates.

With $21.8 million in ticket sales, the Michael Moore film became the first documentary ever to debut at #1, according to The Associated Press. This total would also make the film the top-grossing documentary ever, apart from concert films and movies made for IMAX theaters. The previous record was held by Moore's "Bowling for Columbine," which has taken in more than $21.5 million since it opened on October 11, 2002.

The film's opening success was aided by a two-theater opening in New York on Wednesday, June 23. "Fahrenheit 9/11" explores the war in Iraq, the way President Bush dealt with the terrorist attacks on 9/11 and the government's ties to terrorist groups."