LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - "The Matrix Reloaded," a highly anticipated sci-fi thriller starring Keanu Reeves as a balletic freedom fighter, shot to No. 1 in its first weekend at the North American box office.

The sequel sold $93.3 million worth of tickets in its first weekend of release across North America -- the No. 2 bow of all time behind "Spider-Man," according to studio estimates issued on Sunday. "Spider-Man" opened with $115 million in 2002. The previous No. 2 slot was held by 2001's "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" with $90.3 million.

While most movies open on a Friday in North America, "The Matrix Reloaded" bowed on Thursday, preceded by late screenings on Wednesday. Its distributor, Warner Bros. Pictures., lumped in Wednesday receipts -- estimated by industry observers at about $5 million -- with the Thursday haul of $42.5 million.

The film has taken four days to earn what its 1999 predecessor, "The Matrix," grossed in five weeks, said Dan Fellman, president of distribution at Warner Bros. The original film ended up earning $171 million.

The new film also ranks as the No. 1 bow for an R-rated film, crushing the three-day sum of $58 million for 2001's "Hannibal." Hollywood studios are increasingly shying away from R-rated films, which require viewers under 17 to be accompanied by an adult, in order to focus on more inclusive pictures.

Fellman said the audience was evenly split between viewers under and over 25 years of age, with an abundance of families in attendance. Males comprised about 60 percent of viewers.

"The Matrix Reloaded" stars Reeves as resistance fighter Neo who battles an army of machines that seek to take control of the last human city, Zion. It will be followed in November by a third movie, "The Matrix Revolutions." All three films were written and directed by Larry and Andy Wachowski.

Warner Bros., a unit of AOL Time Warner Inc. produced the films with Village Roadshow Pictures, a unit of Australia's Village Roadshow Ltd . The second and third movies were reportedly budgeted at about $175 million each.

The Eddie Murphy comedy "Daddy Day Care" held steady at No. 2 in its second weekend with $19.2 million, down only 30 percent. The film, released by Sony Corp's Columbia Pictures, has earned $51.4 million after 10 days.

The box office champ for the previous two weeks, "X2: X-Men United" slipped to No. 3 with $17.1 million and a 17-day haul of $174 million. The comic book adventure was released by News Corp.'s Fox Entertainment Group Inc.

Fox was also responsible for the one other new entry in the top 10, the romantic comedy "Down With Love," which opened nationally at No. 4 with a low-key $7.6 million. The film, starring Ewan McGregor and Renee Zellweger, played exclusively in one New York theater last weekend.

The No. 5 slot went to the children's adventure "The Lizzie McGuire Movie," which fell two places in its third weekend after earning $4.5 million. Its total rose to $32.1 million. The film was released by Walt Disney Pictures, a unit of Walt Disney Co.