Video: First Look Trailer TWILIGHT SAGA: ECLIPSE!

No real surprises here.  But we’re sure it will excite Twilight fans.

Photo: First Official Still from Third TWILIGHT film … ECLIPSE

With the second Twilight film, New Moon, still in multiplexes, Summit Entertainment has released the first official still from the next film Eclipse (above.)

Mmmm … flowery.

NEW MOON Continues its Strong Box Office Performance

In its third weekend of release, New Moon expanded its number of screens from last week, and reaped the benefits — pulling in an estimated $15.7 million at the domestic box office.  This made it #2  for the weekend.  It brought the film’s domestic total to $255 .6 million.  The worldwide gross for the film has reached $498.6 million.

New Moon, Twilight Top Search Terms of 2009

The recent box office success of the New Moon wasn’t the only place the Twilight Saga has shined this year.  It’s also been one of the top searches on the Internet this year.

Yahoo has “The Twilight Saga” as the second biggest search term this year.  Google places “New Moon” as number six is fastest rising search terms globally.   However, it didn’t break Bing’s top ten list for the year.

It’s also worth noting that it’s the only movie franchise to be on any of the lists.

NEW MOON Has Much to be Thankful For!

New Moon snagged the top spot at the box office for a second week running.  The teen screamer earned $42.8 million over the Thanksgiving weekend, inching out The Blind Spot‘s $40.1 million take.  This brings New Moon’s domestic box office total to $230 million.  Not too shabby for a film with a production budget of $50 million.

Video: Want an Intellectual Defense for Liking NEW MOON?

Well, smarty pants Brit critic Mark Kermode offers a complex and reasonable one:

NEW MOON Shatters Single Day Record!

According to estimates, New Moon pulled in $72 million on Friday, blasting past the previous single day record of $67 million set by The Dark Knight.  Industry mavens suggest that New Moon is on track for a $125 million weekend.

This all proves that the Twilight Saga is a certifiable phenomenon.   It also shows that the right material, produced at a reasonable budget, can produce blockbuster results.  New Moon’s budget was only $37 million.

Video: NEW MOON Midnight Madness

Didn’t get a chance to enjoy the fun of one New Moon’s midnight showings?  Well, these YouTube videos should make you almost feel like you were there.  And you don’t even need to stand in line.

Will NEW MOON Have a $100 Million Weekend?

Although Summit Entertainment is lowering expectations, suggesting the film will only pull in around $85 million in its openning, many box office mavens think the totals will be closer to $100 million.

Some even think it will go higher.

Deadline Hollywood quotes one skeptical exec from a rival studio:

I have heard estimates all the way up to $120M for the opening weekend, but I just don’t buy it. I wouldn’t be surprised if it pushes the century mark. But it’s hard for me to say it goes over that mark.

This represents a pretty broad spread from $85-120 million.  What do you guys think?

NEW MOON Racks Up Highest Advance Ticket Sales in History!

Twilight sequel New Moon rules the roost on advance ticket sales.   As of November 15, they had already surpassed the previous leader Star Wars III: Revenge of the Sith.  This strong position will only increase in the next few days before release.

Fandango also reveals these interesting facts about New Moon ticket sales:

•98% say the action in New Moon looks better than the action in Twilight.
•72% plan to see the movie with a group of three friends or more.
•52% of survey respondents say they dream about vampires.

•22% are mothers and daughters planning to see New Moon together.

•10% plan to show up at the theater in costume, dressed as characters from the saga.

Hmmm … 10% will show up in costume?  That should be interesting.