"Noah" rises to top of the box office

After weathering a sea of controversy, "Noah" sailed into first place at the box office in its opening weekend.

Paramount's biblical epic starring Russell Crowe as the titular prophet debuted with $44 million, according to studio estimates Sunday.

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"Noah" opens at the Ziegfeld Theatre in New York City

The imaginative take on the tale of Noah's Ark from director Darren Aronofsky ("Black Swan") led some religious groups to claim the story had been inaccurately portrayed and prompted Paramount to add a disclaimer to marketing materials noting that "artistic license has been taken" in telling the story.

The polarizing attention apparently paid off for "Noah," which features such additions to the well-known Bible story as angelic rock creatures and chic wardrobes for Noah and his family. Critics' reviews of the film have been mostly complimentary.

"It certainly feels like the film has really connected with both mainstream moviegoers who are looking for a really sophisticated film and those folks who really want to see a movie that honors their faith," Paramount vice chairman Rob Moore said "It's been a very interesting journey to get to this point, but it's definitely a spectacular launch."

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"I think these biblical-themed movies are like the next frontier in Hollywood," said Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst for box-office tracker Rentrak. "Hollywood hadn't cracked the code on a biblical movie that would have mainstream appeal. Now, I think they've figured it out. We may see a flood -- pun intended -- coming down the pipeline. We already have 'Heaven is for Real' and 'Exodus' slated for later this year."

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"Noah" rises to top of the box office