'Eclipse' howls past midnight record with $30M
"The Twilight Saga" has rung up another record midnight hour.
"The Twilight Saga: Eclipse" took in more than $30 million from midnight screenings Wednesday, according to distributor Summit Entertainment.
That surpassed the previous midnight record of $26.3 million set on opening day last November by its predecessor, "The Twilight Saga: New Moon."
Summit was still counting the numbers and was not expected to have a final overnight number until Thursday. But Summit reported the figure was likely to come in significantly higher than $30 million.
The huge start for "Eclipse" puts the latest chapter in the vampire-romance series on track for one of the biggest opening days ever.
"New Moon" also holds that record, taking in $72.7 million in its first day.
The new midnight record is even more impressive considering "Eclipse" managed it in the middle of the week. "New Moon" opened on Friday, typically a busier day at theaters.
Fans lined up Tuesday hours ahead of the first midnight show times for "Eclipse," which continues the story of brooding teen Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart) and her love triangle with vampire Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson) and werewolf Jacob Black (Taylor Lautner).
With the Fourth of July weekend ahead, "Eclipse" is positioned for a colossal first five days. The record five-day haul for a movie opening on Wednesday is $200 million for last year's "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen."
Source: Yahoo! News
'Eclipse' Breaks Midnight Box Office Records
Summit's "Eclipse" scored massive figures Tuesday night, with more than $30 million at some 4,000 engagements, enough to become the all-time highest-grossing pic for midnight runs.
The franchise's third outing, which surpassed "Twilight" predecessor "New Moon" ($26.3 million) for the late-night crown, will expand to 4,416 U.S. locations today. Large-screen exhib Imax posted north of $1 million from 192 engagements, a record-setting take for the company.
Some 12 territories, including Brazil and Mexico, also screened "Eclipse" during midnight showings. Most markets will continue the film's international rollout today, with additional bows July 1. Pic will launch day-and-date in 42 overseas markets.
Pic's midnight take, which includes 3 a.m. Wednesday screenings from some circuits, reps a sizeable start Stateside over the Fourth of July weekend as its core aud of young femmes mostly are on summer vacation. "Eclipse" will go against the frame's other wide release Paramount's "The Last Airbender," which is expected to best serve males aged 25 and under.
Article by Andrew Stewart at Variety
'The Twilight Saga: Eclipse' breaks box office records with midnight grosses
Twilight fever is showing no sign of abatement with the film’s third installment. In fact, fans of the series seem even more juiced up than usual. The film grossed in excess of $30 million from its midnight shows Tuesday in over 4,000 theaters across North America.
This estimate surpasses the previous midnight record holder, The Twilight Saga: New Moon, which earned $26.3 million last November, and now holds the new industry record as largest midnight gross ever. The film — starring Kristen Stewart, Rob Pattinson, and Taylor Lautner — has received the largest North American release ever, bowing in 4,408 theaters on Wednesday. Twenty-nine additional theaters will be added by Friday for a total of 4,437.
Eclipse marks the first Twilight film to receive a summer opening, a decision that seems to be playing out incredibly well for Summit Entertainment. Stay tuned over the weekend as we report the complete results.
Article by Nicole Sperling at EW.com
'Eclipse' Sets Box-Office Record For Midnight Screenings
In knowing the fervor and devotion of "Twilight" fans, it should come as no surprise that ticket sales for "The Twilight Saga: Eclipse" have broken the record for highest-grossing midnight screenings — previously held by "New Moon."
According to the film's distributor, Summit Entertainment, "Eclipse" took in more than $30 million from midnight screenings on Wednesday (June 30), with final box-office numbers to be determined once the studio finishes its final count. The previous record for midnight showings is $26.3 million, set on the opening day for "New Moon" last November.
"Eclipse" will have to break $72.7 million to beat its predecessor in the all-time opening-day-gross category, but given the strong numbers Wednesday, and the fact that "Moon" opened on a Friday, not midweek, it is fair to say the third chapter in the hugely popular film franchise is on track to rake in serious dough throughout its opening weekend.
"Eclipse" ranks as the widest domestic release in history, opening in 4,416 theaters in North America, beating the record set earlier this year by "Iron Man 2." Four-thousand of those theaters held midnight screenings. Several theater chains also reportedly had 3 a.m. screenings to meet public demand. IMAX was expected to hold 3 a.m. screenings in 120 of its theaters.
In addition to being on par to break the "New Moon" opening-day and midnight-screening records, "Eclipse" has a shot at besting the record for a movie opening over the Fourth of July weekend. That record is currently at $200 million, set by last year's "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen."
Article by Kara Warner at MTV News
[Ina Noorazan]
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