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New Moon Shatters Dark Knight's Opening Day Record

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 17:14:32 +0000

There's a New Moon on the rise and it's obliterating box office records. The second Twilight film grossed an estimated $72.7 million its first full day in release, pushing The Dark Knight and its $67 million first day into second place. And New Moon set this new record will showing on 800 less screens than The Dark Knight. Wow. Words fail me.

Twilight's opening in 2008 set the record for the biggest opening weekend for a film directed by a female. But New Moon blew past Twilight's entire opening weekend take of $69 million its first day.

The record for the biggest opening weekend overall is held by The Dark Knight with 158.4 million. It's likely New Moon will fall short of that record - but at this rate anything is possible.

More on New Moon:

Meet the Wolfpack - Interviews with Tyson Houseman ('Quil'), Bronson Pelletier ('Jared') and Kiowa Gordon ('Embry')
New Moon Movie Review
New Moon Photo Gallery

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New Moon Shatters Dark Knight's Opening Day Record originally appeared on About.com Hollywood Movies on Saturday, November 21st, 2009 at 17:14:32.

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New Moon Has a Record-Breaking Opening

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:03:50 +0000

The Twilight Saga: New Moon's midnight release is one for the record books. New Moon hit 3,514 theaters at 12:01am this morning and shattered the midnight screening record set just this past July by Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. The sixth Harry Potter film took in $22.2 million during its debut screening at midnight. Twilight's second film of the series, New Moon, grossed an estimated $26.3 million, incredible numbers for the teen-centric vampire/werewolf/high school student love triangle.

Online ticketing agency Fandango is reporting New Moon sales of 10 tickets per second today, the film's first full day in release.

More on New Moon:

New Moon Premiere Photos
Review of New Moon Starring Kristen Stewart, Taylor Lautner, and Robert Pattinson
Interviews with the Cast: Taylor Lautner, Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Ashley Greene, and Michael Sheen

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New Moon Has a Record-Breaking Opening originally appeared on About.com Hollywood Movies on Friday, November 20th, 2009 at 15:03:50.

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Uma Thurman Joins Robert Pattinson in Bel Ami

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:31:04 +0000

Robert Pattinson (The Twilight Saga: New Moon) will be becoming intimately involved with Uma Thurman and Kristin Scott Thomas onscreen in Bel Ami, a dramatic film based on the story by Guy de Maupassant. de Maupassant's tale has been adapted numerous times before, the first being a German adaptation way back in 1939.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Thurman has signed up to play a Paris socialite who helps an ambitious journalist (Pattinson) rise to fame and later becomes his wife. Scott Thomas will co-star as another wealthy socialite who falls for Pattinson's character, George Duroy.

Pattinson told the press at the LA New Moon junket he believes Bel Ami will begin filming in February 2010.

Thurman will next be seen in the fantasy adventure Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief. Pattinson recently wrapped filming on the third Twilight movie, Eclipse, has Remember Me hitting theaters in March, and a starring role in Unbound Captives opposite Hugh Jackman and Rachel Weisz in the works.

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Uma Thurman Joins Robert Pattinson in Bel Ami originally appeared on About.com Hollywood Movies on Friday, November 20th, 2009 at 14:31:04.

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The Blind Side Movie Review

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:51:10 +0000

Sandra Bullock is batting 2 for 3 in 2009, not a bad average for the actress/producer whose career now spans 20+ years. The Proposal proved Bullock's still adorable to watch in a romantic comedy. All About Steve showed the veteran actress isn't immune to selecting lousy projects to star in. Thankfully, with The Blind Side we can forget All About Steve, put the past behind us, and enjoy what Bullock is able to pull off as a blonde in a more dramatic turn.

Director John Lee Hancock is familiar with inspirational sports stories having helmed 2002's The Rookie, a baseball drama starring Dennis Quaid as a coach who gets a shot at the big leagues late in life. Like The Rookie, The Blind Side is a sweet story about not giving up and triumphing over adversity.

The Blind Side Movie Review

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The Blind Side Movie Review originally appeared on About.com Hollywood Movies on Friday, November 20th, 2009 at 12:51:10.

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Movie Review: New Moon

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 02:33:15 +0000

Let's call it like it is. New Moon is critic-proof. I doubt there's anyone out there going, "Well, I saw Twilight, I want to see what happens with Edward and Bella, I want to see Jacob wolf-out, but I'll wait and see what the critics have to say about New Moon before buying a ticket." If you're a Twilight fan, you're going to go - likely multiple times - to see New Moon in a theater.

I realize I could say New Moon's the worst movie ever made and that declaration wouldn't influence anyone. I know that. (Before you attack, I'm not saying New Moon is the worst movie ever made. That was just to illustrate a point.) That said, it's still my job to write up a review. Take it as you like, and know that before I defected to True Blood, I loved the Twilight books - although New Moon was not my favorite of the series. I still think they're great entertainment for their intended target audience, and I believe Twilight fans are going to eat up New Moon. They'll be howling over the new batch of shirtless hunks, and there's a bit more romance as well as much more of Taylor Lautner who proves why he was the right guy to play Jacob Black.

The Twilight Saga: New Moon Movie Review

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Movie Review: New Moon originally appeared on About.com Hollywood Movies on Friday, November 20th, 2009 at 02:33:15.

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Director Chris Weitz and Writer Melissa Rosenberg on New Moon

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 13:18:25 +0000

Director Chris Weitz (The Golden Compass) readily admits he has no idea why people love vampires. In fact, just a week before he was offered the chance to direct New Moon, the second Twilight movie, Weitz recalls he asked a friend, "Why are they making so many vampire movies? I just don't get it." And even though his grandmother was in the 1931 Dracula, Weitz never felt as though he was fated to someday direct a film about vampires.

"The vampire thing isn't really what appeals to me about this series of books. It's the characters, and it's Bella especially. And it's the chance to work with these young actors, and to be honest with Kristen [Stewart] especially. She's extraordinary," explained Weitz during New Moon's LA press conference. Read More...

In Related News:

Exclusive Interview with Michael Sheen - 'Aro' in New Moon
Interview with New Moon's Volturi
Exclusive Interview with Ashley Greene - 'Alice' in the Twilight Series

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Director Chris Weitz and Writer Melissa Rosenberg on New Moon originally appeared on About.com Hollywood Movies on Thursday, November 19th, 2009 at 13:18:25.

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Exclusive Billy Burke New Moon Interview

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 11:36:04 +0000

Billy Burke plays Charlie Swan, police chief and father of Bella (Kristen Stewart), in the Twilight film series based on Stephenie Meyer's books. At the rowdy LA New Moon premiere, Burke talked about the appeal of the franchise while fans called out his name - and his character's - from their coveted spots lining the red carpet. Burke said he's used to the recognition. "Some are screaming Charlie, some are screaming Billy, some know my name, some wouldn't care. But yeah, I'm okay with that. Sure," laughed Burke.

Billy Burke on New Moon and Twilight Fans

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Exclusive Billy Burke New Moon Interview originally appeared on About.com Hollywood Movies on Thursday, November 19th, 2009 at 11:36:04.

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Nicolas Cage on Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 11:21:49 +0000

Nicolas Cage teams up with Werner Herzog and reunites with his Ghost Rider co-star Eva Mendes for Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans, a crime drama from First Look Pictures about a rogue cop who loves his job and loves his drugs. Set in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Bad Lieutenant finds Cage playing New Orleans Detective Terence McDonagh, a total bad-ass with an attitude and a total disregard for how officers are supposed to conduct themselves. McDonagh's fearless, ruthless, addicted to drugs, and in a relationship with a hooker (Mendes).

Cage was instrumental in choosing the location for the film and at the LA press day for Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans, Cage said he decided on New Orleans because he had to face his fears and go through a catharsis. "New Orleans is a very potent city in my life for various reasons," said Cage. "It's a combination of different energies - African, French, English, Spanish - and there's a lot of magic there. I've had a lot of experiences there, and I wanted to go back there and confront it. I knew that I would channel that energy, and it could either be a disaster, or be something beautiful, so I was up for the challenge." Read More...

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Nicolas Cage on Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans originally appeared on About.com Hollywood Movies on Thursday, November 19th, 2009 at 11:21:49.

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Exclusive New Moon Premiere Photos

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:07:09 +0000

Browsing through this exclusive gallery of 144 photos from the New Moon LA premiere is the next best thing to having been there in person - and you don't even have to worry about parking, pushy people, and pounding eardrums while checking out the celebs. Featured in this exclusive gallery are New Moon's vampires (Robert Pattinson, Kellan Lutz, Ashley Greene, Elizabeth Reaser, Jackson Rathbone, Nikki Reed, Peter Facinelli, Edi Gathegi), New Moon's Volturi group (Michael Sheen, Jamie Campbell Bower, Christopher Heyerdahl, Dakota Fanning, Cameron Bright, Daniel Cudmore, Charlie Bewley), the Wolfpack (Taylor Lautner, Chaske Spencer, Alex Meraz, Kiowa Gordon, Tyson Houseman, Bronson Pelletier) the humans (Kristen Stewart, Anna Kendrick, Christian Serratos, Billy Burke, Michael Welch, Justin Chon), other Twilight players, and a random bunch of celebrities who showed up to catch the New Moon screening:

New Moon LA Premiere Photo Gallery

_{(Photo &copy Richard Chavez)}

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Exclusive New Moon Premiere Photos originally appeared on About.com Hollywood Movies on Wednesday, November 18th, 2009 at 16:07:09.

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Taylor Lautner New Moon LA Premiere Interview

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:51:49 +0000

Signs boasting membership in Team Jacob were just as numerous as those waved by the vampire loving Team Edward legion of fans. And at the LA premiere of New Moon in Westwood, CA, the cheers were only marginally less ear-shattering for Taylor Lautner than they were for Robert Pattinson. Lautner buffed up to play Edward Cullen's rival for the heart of Bella (played by Kristen Stewart), and going shirtless and turning into Bella's protector is likely to win over any fence-sitters who haven't declared a team - at least until Eclipse hits theaters next June.

In between posing for pics and signing hundreds of posters, photos, and items of clothing, Lautner chatted up this second entry in the Twilight franchise:

Taylor Lautner and Gil Birmingham New Moon Interviews

_{(Exclusive Photo &copy Richard Chavez)}

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Taylor Lautner New Moon LA Premiere Interview originally appeared on About.com Hollywood Movies on Wednesday, November 18th, 2009 at 15:51:49.

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