‘Twilight’ Makes $70 Million In Opening Weekend
Twilight, the much-hyped, highly anticipated big screen adaptation of the wildly successful book of the same name, was the #1 movie at the box office this weekend pulling in $70.6 million over the 3-day weekend. The film enjoyed the highest grossing opening for a female director and, with the announcement of the New Moon sequel, sets the stage for a coming franchise of films:
Twilight, director Catherine Hardwicke’s adaptation of Stephenie Meyer’s vampire-romance novel, easily won the weekend box office with a $70.6 mil debut gross, according to Sunday’s estimates. Fellow freshman flick Bolt and hefty holdover Quantum of Solace, meanwhile, trailed far behind. That huge premiere number represents achievements on many levels for Twilight. It’s the top debut ever for a film directed by one woman (Mimi Leder’s Deep Impact banked $41.2 mil on its initial weekend 10 years ago). It’s the 29th best first-weekend bow of all time (falling just shy of 300’s $70.9 mil and coming in just ahead of Transformers’ $70.5 mil). It’s by far the biggest opening yet for fledgling studio Summit, whose previous best bow was Never Back Down’s $8.6 mil back in March. It stands as the fourth biggest premiere of the year — better than Quantum of Solace’s $67.5 mil opening, better than WALL-E’s $63.1 mil, better than Hancock’s $62.6 mil, to name a few … it’s no surprise that the studio already announced a sequel, New Moon. But the question for now, of course, is where Twilight, which averaged a bloody good $20,636 in 3,419 theaters, goes from here? Not surprisingly, girls and women comprised a whopping 75 percent of the film’s audience, but will they continue to pack theaters as the weeks go on? In the short term: yes. According to studio data, ticket buyers gave the movie a nice A- grade, signaling the spread of positive word of mouth as we head into Thanksgiving. Certainly, there will be some competition for this core crowd from Australia and Four Christmases next week, but you can also assume that Twilight will be able to build on its super-smashing start.
Just as I suspected … I kinda had a feeling that the movie would enjoy a very successful opening weekend — never underestimate the power of teenage girls. I, too, suspect that the movie will enjoy much repeat business … after all, a few Pink readers have mentioned that they’ve already seen the movie multiple times this weekend alone. Something tells me that this is the beginning of a beautiful and very profitable movie franchise. One last reminder that today is the last day YOU can submit entries for the Twilight Prize Pack contest that I’m running here on the blog (click HERE for deets). I will accept entries today and then will select and announce the winner right here on the blog.
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November 24th, 2008 at 8:54 am
I saw it yesterday and LOVED it. I think I liked it better than the book actually…which never happens. Bella was a lot easier to stomach on screen.
I keep hearing the thing about teenage girls…which I’m sure that is the core audience going to see this movie. But what really struck me when I went was the number of older people in the audience! They didn’t even have kids/grandkids as an excuse. There really was a wide range of ages/sexes there.
November 24th, 2008 at 9:01 am
I saw it at the midnight showing on Thursday and again last night and I have plans to see it again and again and again ;]]
November 24th, 2008 at 9:04 am
everyone i know thats seen it, says that it was missing something. that the chemistry between the 2 main actors wasnt that great at all. and it was missing stuff from the book, just little things, but important things.?
November 24th, 2008 at 9:05 am
I seen the movie at the midnight showing, then again Saturday night. I’m also planning on seeing it tonight. I agree with Jeni there really seems to be a wide range of people going to see it. It is really annoying me that everyone keeps saying teenage girls are the ones going to see it. I am 23 and married and I can’t get enough of it.
November 24th, 2008 at 9:38 am
I really loved the movie. I mean, of course people are gonna say it’s not as good as the book or whatever- that’s because it’s a book to movie film. The first Harry Potter movie sucked too, but now I can’t wait until July…
I thought Kirsten and Roberts chemistry was amazing. At first I couldn’t stand Rob as Edward (as so many of us did) but now I love him… I thought they did very well, even though I felt the need to spend a lot more time on the meadow and resturant scenes. But the movie did very well, and I can’t wait for New Moon.
November 24th, 2008 at 9:38 am
I’ve already seen the movie twice & im planning on seeing it again before the week is over! I cant help it i am an obsessed 20 year old!!!
November 24th, 2008 at 9:39 am
I agree with both of you…I’m 22 and I took my 13 year old sister because we both love the books, plus I figured it gave me an excuse. We got to the theatre at 7 for a 7:45 showing and there was a massive line waiting for them to allow seating to start. We got in line between another pair of sisters — except this pair was in their late 20’s/early 30’s. They actually had it on two screens at the same time, so I checked out the second one before the movie started. It was probably 3/4 full of adults/non-teens. Some couples, some groups of girls. Our theatre was more of a mix, though mostly young teens. I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of males, especially considering I saw some groups of guys who were NOT with girls. I’m going again with 4 of my guy friends this week. Two of whom read the books and are into them, and another two who are getting sucked in by the hype.
November 24th, 2008 at 10:17 am
I’m 24. I’m SO happy the release got moved up a month b/c I am moving to Germany in a week and don’t know if I could drag my husband to the movie w/ me. I’ve seen it twice already, mid-night showing on Thursday and yesterday afternoon. I actually got my sister, who swore to me that she’d never read those books into them from seeing the movie yesterday. Right after the movie, she went and bought the book and can’t put it down! Go me!! lol… But I’m going to see it again today. The way I described it to a friend was “Twilight is like my Harry Potter.” Love it!!
November 24th, 2008 at 10:38 am
Just so you know, Mrs. Meyer is a very devout Mormon so if you think she’s for gay marriage, think again. She’s devoting 10% of profits to the Church, rumor has it. Keep that in your mind when you pay for Twilight and all related merchandise. I’m still curious to see the film but I’m going to assume her stance on gay marriage.
November 24th, 2008 at 11:49 am
yeah I didnt pay for my ticket so I don’t feel as bad. I’m in az and I know just what church its probably going to (there is a famous and huge mormon temple in Mesa).
While it was ok, I think there should be some props given to BUFFY. This film would have never been possible without the amazing almost decade of buffyverse (buffy and angel).
I also thought KS playing bella was super annoying and I really couldn’t see why Edward was so amazed by her. Yeah she had a hot bod but even in the real world…there has to be something that draws you to someone PERSONALITY WISE. She was really just too Party of Five for my taste.
If this movie were done a few years ago, Lindsey Lohan probably would’ve got the part (instead of Mean Girls being he big break). Totally serial.
I totally get the series though, and if I were a regressive 30 year old or a true 14 year old girl, I’d probably be back and the theater watching it again. Instead I’ve been watching my buffy box set all weekend….
November 24th, 2008 at 5:01 pm
I have to saw that I enjoyed the series of books overall and I was really excited to see the movie. It did not live up to my expectations. Now, I’m not in any way obsessive about this series. It did not change my life and I am not a fifteen year old girl who is totally in love with Robert Pattinson (although there was one sitting behind us last night who kept sighing over and over “He’s SO hot… omg.”lol) My husband and I both read the series and he enjoyed it as well, but he was even less impressed with the movie interpretation than I was. He felt the whole thing was much too corny and awkward, and I have to agree with him that there was much too much intense staring and not enough conversation and insight into their relationship. And it was forced intense staring. Much of the movie felt forced. Bella’s whole inner monologue was missing, and because it’s such an important part of what makes the book work, you only see what’s outside and the characters don’t become real. I don’t know, I appreciate the effort and I hope that maybe they will grow into their parts more in the next movie. And maybe include some more details. If I wouldn’t have read the book I would have had no idea what the crap was happening, and my brain wouldn’t have filled in the missing bits. I do have to say that I really enjoy Jacob’s smile. :D
November 24th, 2008 at 5:02 pm
P.S. Buffy RULES. Thank you, Joss Whedon.
November 24th, 2008 at 5:07 pm
LOVED IT!
November 24th, 2008 at 5:48 pm
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November 24th, 2008 at 7:18 pm
I have now seen the movie twice (at midnight and yesterday) and I loved it again the second time around. I like the corniness and akwardness it has, after all it’s main character is a 17 year old girl in love for the first time with a vampire of all people. I like the chemistry between the two actors and I think it shows. There’s been a lot of talk about their offscreen relationship and while others don’t see the chemistry I think there is one there… look at it from a teenagers perspective. Not that I am one but I can see it from their point of view. It’s going to be interesting to see how the other books play out in film, especially as they develop the relationships more between Bella and Jacob and Bella and Edward. I look at this whole thing the way I look at Harry Potter… it got hoards of teenagers to pick up a book instead of running to their XBoxes. As an English teacher this is the greatest part of the whole mania.
November 24th, 2008 at 8:34 pm
I just saw it like an hour ago.
I was dying just because Edward is so perfect,
but not in an annoying perfect way, just like,
genuinely perfect. Everyone, regardless of whether you are a ‘Twilighter’ or not, shoud go see it. Terrific!
November 25th, 2008 at 12:55 pm
This movie is definitely for the teenage girl. Almost all of the money made from the movie is from them.
To Michelle: I do see that although it is great teenagers are reading instead of playing video games, they should pick BETTER ones instead of crap like this. I’ve read love stories that are written SO MUCH BETTER than the Twlight.
December 4th, 2008 at 11:26 am
I have to say I totally loved the books I have read them three times. I hate to read and one of the girls from work had them and I started reading them and couldnt stop. Some of the girls and I from work could not wait til the movie came out we all went together to see the movie and want to go see it again. Although the movie was missing some good parts from the book is was very good and cant wait for the second book to come out on film.
December 6th, 2008 at 2:51 pm
The movie was amazing! I think it was put together perfectly, and Rob and Kristen, both did great jobs. The movie fit the book much more then I would of expected, so that was also really neat! I loved the book New Moon so I can not wait till New Moon comes out. I hope the actors in Twilight get a break though they really deserve it!