'Twilight' takes big bite out of box office

AFP - Monday, November 24

LOS ANGELES (AFP) - - Teen vampire film "Twilight" scared up a phenomenal 70.5 million dollars in its North American box office debut, Exhibitor Relations said Sunday.

That was more than 44 percent of the total weekend take for the top 12 films showing, the industry monitor said.

James Bond thriller "Quantum of Solace" scored second place with 27.4 million dollars in sales while Disney's new animated "Bolt" barked its way to an almost second place tie with 27 million dollars, also in its premier weekend, Exhibitor said.

"Madagascar 2" racked up 16 million dollars in ticket sales while "Role Models" was in fifth place with less than half that: 7.2 million dollars.

Angelina Jolie vehicle "Changeling" and preteen-targetted "High School Musical 3" took 2.6 and 2.0 million dollars respectively, in the sixth and seventh places.

In eighth place, "Zack and Miri" earned 1.7 million dollars, while "The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas" followed with 1.67 million.

"The Secret Life of Bees," based on the novel of the same name, rounded out the top 10 with 1.27 million, Exhbitor said.