Wonder Woman has become the highest-earning film directed by a woman in its first weekend at the US box office.

The superhero film, directed by Patty Jenkins and starring Gal Gadot, raked in $US100.5 million in the US and Canada, and a total of $223 million globally.

Wonder Woman surpassed Fifty Shades of Grey, directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson, which earned $85.1 million domestically and $242.36 million internationally in its opening weekend in 2015.

But the two highest-grossing female-directed films lag behind the overall front runner, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, which grossed $247.97 million globally in its opening weekend in 2015.

Warner Bros. said 52 per cent of the Wonder Woman audience was female. It is the first modern Marvel or DC film with a female-majority audience.

Jeff Goldstein, distribution chief at Warner Bros., said the results show women can sway a film’s success.

“It shows that superhero movies aren’t just about men. They’re about women as well,” Goldstein said.

Actor Gal Gadot, director Patty Jenkins and actor Lynda Carter attend the premiere of Wonder Woman. Photo: Getty

“All the noise about Patty Jenkins breaking the glass ceiling for directors, I think that added to it as well.

“To get it right, it takes a lot of work. I think on this movie, all of us got it right.”

Just 7 per cent of the top 250-grossing directors were women in 2016, according to a North American study.

Fans have been using the hashtag #WonderWomen on Twitter to share the inspiration they have gained from the female lead.

Young girls have been attending the screening dressed up as the superhero.

Lynda Carter, who starred as Wonder Woman in the 1975 film, congratulated Jenkins, Gadot and co-star Chris Pine on Twitter.

“Wonder Woman is breaking box office records!!! Bravo, Patty Jenkins! Bravo, Gal Gadot! Bravo Chris Pine!”

Lupita Nyong’o, who starred in 12 Years a Slave, The Jungle Book and Star Wars: The Force Awakens, put her weight behind the film.

“The Gods have seen fit to bless us with Wonder Woman,” she wrote on Twitter.

“@GalGadot will glue you to the screen and dir. @PattyJenks is not messing around.”

Wonder Woman is breaking box office records!!! Bravo,Patty Jenkins! Bravo, Gal Gadot!
Bravo, Chris Pine!

— Lynda Carter (@RealLyndaCarter) June 5, 2017

"why is wonder woman even so important???"

me: pic.twitter.com/rPV9AuBbS8

— hannah (@swiftywayne) May 29, 2017

Hunger Games and Pitch Perfect 2 star Elizabeth Banks said Jenkins “killed it”.

Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson and Kumail Nanjiani have also praised the film.

Television critic Alicia Malone said the film’s success showed women affect box office results, men will watch female leads and it can be a commercial hit.

“Didn’t anticipate how emotional it would be to see a female superhero on screen & hear the crowd cheer! Bravo,” she said.

Gadot came to Wonder Woman after starring in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, and in the Fast & Furious films.

Jenkins had previously directed 2003 feature Monster, which she also wrote. The film won actress Charlize Theron an Oscar and Golden Globe.

-with agencies