For most of its brief Broadway lifetime, “Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark” has contributed more to punch lines than the bottom line. A series of unbelievable setbacks and a bloated $75 million price tag made the Broadway blockbuster an easy target for late night talk show hosts.

However, it looks like Spidey may get the last laugh after all. After finding its footing in the autumn, the show closed out 2011 by setting a Broadway record.

In the last week of 2011, the musical raked in over $2.9 million in ticket sales, beating Wicked’s previous record for most in a single week.

“Spider-Man” producers took advantage of an influx of tourists arriving on flights to New York City by adding an additional show during the holidays.

They were also aided by their enormous theater. Foxwoods, the theater which houses “Turn Off the Dark,” seats 1,930, more than any other venue on Broadway.

Source: Business Week

CC Flickr photo credit: Hazel Estrada