The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn, Part 1, the much-anticipated fourth installment of the vampire franchise, opens this weekend worldwide and is expected to take down the top film Immortals as well as other box office rivals.
The Breaking Dawn debut could collect an estimated $110 to $140 million solely in the US, according to The Hollywood Reporter -- similar figures to New Moon, which took $142.8 million during opening weekend in 2009. BoxOffice.com predicts the film will make up to $150 million.
The online cinema retailer Fandango is selling 94% of its ticket sales for Breaking Dawn, starting with screenings at midnight. More than 2,500 showtimes have been sold out.
The penultimate film based on Stephenie Meyer's young adult romance novels, the film released on November 16 in France, Italy, Netherlands, South Africa, Sweden, and Switzerland and rolls out through November 18.
Directed by Bill Condon (Dreamgirls), Breaking Dawn, Part 1 stars Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner and features the wedding of Belle and Edward. When she is pregnant the coven and wolf pack close in on the happily married couple to take their child.
Other films opening this weekend include Happy Feet Too, the family-friendly animated story of dancing and flying penguins, which BoxOffice.com claims could make $42,000.
{{/usCountry}}Other films opening this weekend include Happy Feet Too, the family-friendly animated story of dancing and flying penguins, which BoxOffice.com claims could make $42,000.
{{/usCountry}}The kids' musical movie features the voices of Elijah Wood, Robin Williams, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Hank Azaria, Sofia Vergara, Pink and Hugo Weaving. It opens in Russia and North America, rolling out though November and playing in December in the UK and Europe.
Also out is George Clooney in The Descendants, which will not open internationally until January and February 2012. It will release in the US for consideration for the award season and appeals to adults, so is not a contender against Breaking Dawn.