Film News: ‘The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn -- Part 1’ Dominates Box Office

Submitted by TimBMartens on November 20, 2011 - 11:33pm

CHICAGO – No surprise here: “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1” dominated the box office this weekend and took home the number one spot. The fourth film in the hit vampire/teenage love franchise brought in an estimated $139.5 million in its opening three days.

The total gross for the film adaptation of the first half of the fourth “Twilight” story was the second best all time. The second film “New Moon,” made $142.8 million on its opening weekend, just $3 million more than “Breaking Dawn – Part 1.” We will have to wait and see if the second half of the “Breaking Dawn” tale can become the highest grossing weekend of the “Twilight” films when it is released next November.

As far as the rest of the box office, “Happy Feet Two” lead the way with $22 million, good enough for number two at the box office. The new film revealed, once again, that the animated family features still have very strong showings.

The week’s other new release, “The Descendants,” came in tenth with $1.2 million, an extremely respectable total for a film that was only available at 29 theaters in the country.

Looking ahead, is “Breaking Dawn – Part 1” strong enough to hold on for a thanksgiving weekend win? There will be a significant drop off as most diehard fans would have seen it during the first weekend. Also, the film will have to compete with all of the roll-overs, as well as the new releases “The Muppets” and Martin Scorsese’s children’s book adaptation “Hugo.”

1. The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1 – $139.5 million — new
2. Happy Feet Two — $22 million — new
3. Immortals— $12.3 million – down 62% — $53 million total
4. Jack and Jill— $12 million – down 52% — $41 million total
5. Puss in Boots — $10.7 million – down 57% — $122.3 million total
6. Tower Heist – $7 million – down 45% — $53.4 million
7. J. Edgar— $5.9 million – down 47% — $20/7 million total
8. A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas– $2.9 million – down 51% — $28.3 million
9. In Time — $1.7 million – down 59% — $33.4 million total
10. The Descendants – $1.2 million — new