“Eclipse's” $68.5M Debut Shatters Another Record

“Twilight’s” latest film has eclipsed another box office record.

The Twilight Saga: Eclipse” raked in $68.5 million in its first 24 hours, the most ever for a film debuting on a Wednesday, according to reports.

The third installment in the teen vampire-werewolf thriller starring Kristen Stewart, Taylor Lautner and Robert Pattinson, “Eclipse” also took in $30 million alone from its midnight opening on a record 4,416 screens across the U.S.

That midnight opening surpassed the franchise’s previous box office record for “The Twilight Saga: New Moon’s” witching hour debut.

“New Moon,” the franchise’s second film, still holds the record for all-time best opening with its $72.7 million take last year. But “New Moon” debuted on a Friday, which usually assures better attendance at theaters than on weekdays, The Associated Press reported.

Summit Entertainment’s head of distribution, Richie Fay, told the AP that if the film can draw more male fans over the next five days, “Eclipse” has a shot at surpassing "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen’s" record $200 million coup.

Like “New Moon, “Eclipse” has so far counted on the support of female “Twi-Hards” for 80 percent of audiences. The Fourth of July holiday weekend is shaping up as another x- factor.

“We have the location and screen count that could get us there,” Fay told the AP. “But if the weather isn't in our favor, if people are out barbecuing and looking at fireworks Sunday night, we may not get there."

Click here for our "Eclipse" review.

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