Lunar frenzy but can Rob Pattinson & Co. beat Shia LeBeouf and Robots’ top 2009 weekend bow of $108 million?
By Peter Lonergan
Pattinson looks Elvis AND his films gross higher
HOLLYWOOD, CA (Hollywood Today) 11/19/09 –With the film New Moon set to open in just one day, anticipation around the world is building to a frenzy. The movie is a sequel to the enormously successful Twilight, the first of Stephanie Meyer’s books to reach the big screen. Twilight brought in an estimated $70.5 million in its opening weekend, and expectations are that “New Moon” will exceed this. The film is directed by Chris Weitz, who had the unenviable task of creating a film that would live up to the tremendous hype as the second of the four-part Twilight saga.
Some pundits think New Moon will open in the $85 million range, yet we think it will do better. For one thing, Movie Tickets reports that is is their No. 1 Advance Online ticket-seller of all time — even more than Star Wars III: Revenge of the Sith.
Stephanie Meyer’s books have a following not far from that of the Harry Potter series, so Twilight’s success on the big screen – despite an incredible opening weekend – was not totally unexpected. Meyer’s second book, New Moon, vaulted to number one on the New York Times best seller’s list for children’s chapter books in just two weeks and remained on the list for almost a year. Best selling novels have been debuting extremely well as movies and New Moon will be another massive box office hit. To exceed Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen’s opening weekend gross of $108 million, however, will be no easy task but it is not out of the question, considering today’s current fascination with vampires.
Interview with The Vampire may be the most acclaimed and recognizable vampire movie of all time, however, in the last few years, vampires have become an entertainment phenomenon. Vampires have gone from grotesque, ghastly characters portrayed in movies like Blade; 30 Days of Night; and From Dusk till Dawn; to emotion-filled, attractive characters in TV shows and movies like The Vampire Diaries; True Blood; and Twilight. Thanks to Stephen Moyer (True Blood) and Robert Pattison (Twilight) viewers are falling in love with what were once some of the most heinous creatures of human imagination.
Stories and photos from New Moon have been on the cover of almost every entertainment magazine in the US. There is no question that it has been one of the most advertised and anticipated movies this year. New Moon is not only in the running for this year’s highest grossing opening weekend: it could be amongst the highest grossing opening weekends in the history of film.
14 responses so far ↓
1 Edward Cullen Fan // Nov 19, 2009 at 7:47 am
I personally think that the films have been way better than the books. Thank goodness for Hollywood scriptwriters as I think Stephanie Meyer kind of lost the plot in books 3 and 4. Not as good as the Harry Potter books.
2 Yuri Belen. // Nov 19, 2009 at 8:19 am
well i think the movies AND the books are awesome. the books Ive read so many times and i still cant get enough. the movies are way better than harry p. for me.. i personally hate harry p. soo. but w.e. twilight saga rules.!! woo.
3 the supreme judge // Nov 19, 2009 at 10:08 am
new moon is just mind blowing and simply OUTSTANDING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ROBERT N KRISTEN JUST EXCEL IN THEIR ROLE
NEW MOON ROCKS THE WORLD!!!!!!!!!
4 the supreme judge // Nov 19, 2009 at 10:09 am
new moon is just mind blowing and simply OUTSTANDING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ROBERT N KRISTEN JUST EXCEL IN THEIR ROLE
NEW MOON ROCKS THE WORLD!!!!!!!!!
5 the supreme judge // Nov 19, 2009 at 10:09 am
new moon is just mind blowing and simply OUTSTANDING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ROBERT N KRISTEN JUST EXCEL IN THEIR ROLE
NEW MOON ROCKS THE WORLD!!!!!!!!!
6 Julia // Nov 19, 2009 at 12:27 pm
What a well written article. I personally can’t wait to see the movie however am avoiding going opening night due to my extreme fear of mobs of screaming 16 year old girls.
7 Lori // Nov 19, 2009 at 3:39 pm
I am beyond excited book 2 was good but 3 and 4 were beyond exciting. The movies were nothing compared to the books.
8 mimi // Nov 19, 2009 at 4:20 pm
Stop comparing twilight to harry potter.
Compare it to another vampires.
Because hp smash twilight.
And by the way,twilight isn’t a saga.
A saga consists of 5+books like the lord of the rings and harry potter.
So there’s that morons.
9 mimi // Nov 19, 2009 at 4:20 pm
Stop comparing twilight to harry potter.
Compare it to another vampires.
Because hp smash twilight.
And by the way,twilight isn’t a saga.
A saga consists of 5+books like the lord of the rings and harry potter.
So there’s that morons.
10 Anna // Nov 19, 2009 at 6:07 pm
Chill out Mimi… Looks like the Twilight fever has you all riled up.
FYI – the Oxford Dictionary defines as saga as “a long story of heroic achievement, especially a medieval prose narrative in Old Norse or Old Icelandic. 2 a long, involved account or series of incidents”.
I look forward to seeing New Moon.
11 Sana // Nov 19, 2009 at 6:44 pm
Wow, Mimi, take it easy!
Contrary to popular belief, ignorance is not bliss…so before you call people names on the account of something that you have absolutely no idea about, please, think twice. Lord of the Rings is a triology (that means THREE, and not 5+).
Also, (and this goes out to everyone), stop comparing Twilight to Harry Potter and ‘other vampires’. It’s ridiculous, Twilight has absolutely nothing in common with Harry Potter, and unlike most other vampire films is not a horror genre, but a teen romance (which does not automatically mean that it’s ‘crap for screaming 16 yr. olds’).
That said, I absolutely can’t wait for New Moon!!!
12 Gina // Nov 19, 2009 at 9:25 pm
Rob Pattinson is worth every penny and hours in line just to stare at his face on the big screen…..SWOOON!!!!
13 Vulture.Daddy // Nov 20, 2009 at 1:34 pm
Why is it Star Wars never gets criticized for promoting “the erotics of abstinence”? After all, both sci fi saga’s are heavily influenced by Mormon doctrine. F.Y.I. Gary Kurtz who produced the original Star Wars series, grew up in a Mormon family… Not a bad job of producing…considering it only cost 10 million for the original, one half to one third the amount of non-special -effects movies at the time. Edward Cullen is Luke Skywalker with fangs. I don’t see how Edward could have defeated Luke though… in a fair fight, Luke could hold him off with his light saber. Get back romantic Vampire! Lest I smite thee!
14 kathryn (mommy) // Nov 25, 2009 at 9:04 pm
Pete and Anna,
Brilliant words, I think this is better than fence building. For sure, better climate. Thank you so much for looking after my baby boy. Next visit if I’m not too fat I’m going to hide away in his backpack. ttul,
Kathryn
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