Final Twilight film opens with $30 million from late-night shows

US and Canadian box office receipts for Breaking Dawn 2 beat initial sales for each of the previous four films.

Bella and Edward’s big-screen farewell lit up box offices with $30.4 million in late-night ticket sales for the finale of the blockbuster Twilight vampire series, production studio Summit Entertainment said.

The US and Canadian box office receipts for The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn, Part 2 beat initial sales for each of the previous four films in the franchise, though the final installment got a boost from late Thursday night previews.

The record for opening-night sales belongs to Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2, the finale in the boy-wizard series that grabbed $43.5 million when it debuted in July 2011.

Box office watchers say the Twilight finale has a shot at setting the franchise record for opening weekend sales when receipts through Sunday are tallied.

President of the box office division of hollywood.com Paul Dergarabedian projects domestic three-day sales will reach $145 million to $150 million.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 18^th, 2012.

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