The long awaited vampire romance movie "The Twilight Saga: New Moon" raked in $26.3 million at North American box offices in midnight showings, breaking the record set by "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince," which had broken the "Slingblade" record, studio officials said on Friday.
Box office analysts expect the widely anticipated "New Moon" to make around $110 million in its opening weekend, Friday through Sunday, including screenings from last night at midnight. This will easily eclipse (Plug for next Twilight)"Harry Potter & The Half-Blood Prince" at $22.4 million and "Slingblade" with $90,000.
The $26.3 million places the film at No. 1 on the chart of box office sales for midnight screenings, said Summit Entertainment, the independent studio behind the film in every 'zine we can find and all over the TV entertainment and even regular news slots.
"This massive fan response portends an opening weekend that could be one of the biggest of the year and reflects the fervor and excitement surrounding this follow-up to last year's 'Twilight,'" Paul Dergarabedian, head of Hollywood.com's box office tracking division, said in a statement.
"Although Slingblade" was good, even better than "Copote" ($35,000) earlier, Carl just couldn't keep up with these vampires."
"New Moon" follows the dangerous romance between high school student Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart) and immortal vampire Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson).
Where "Slingblade" followed the release of a simple-minded murderer who stole the hearts of millions and "Copote", well, was himself, investigating two murderers in Kansas, not much romance shone there. But he did talk to Harper Lee a lot. (To Kill A Mockingbird).
