The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Reaps Big Money In Box Office

Early studio estimates have landed “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn” in the top three of the best opening-day gross of all time, but the first part of the two-film finale of the vampire movie franchise might fall short of the debut set by “The Twilight Saga: New Moon” two years ago.

“The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn” earned an estimated $72 million when it opened on Friday, putting it on track for a $140-million domestic box-office weekend. It, however, failed to set the best debut for the franchise as it fell short of “New Moon’s” $72.7 million opening-day gross. “Breaking Dawn’s” performance puts it in third place for the best opening ever, just below “New Moon” and “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2,” which earned $91.1 million on its opening day earlier this year.

Languishing in the shadow of “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn” was the animated film “Happy Feet Two,” the sequel to the 2006 hit. The penguin movie earned an estimated $5.9 million on Friday for a projected $22-million weekend.