Success of 'Twilight' spells sequel

Robert Pattinson (left) and Kristen Stewart star in ''Twilight,'' based on a vampire thriller by Stephenie Meyer.

The teen-vampire love story "Twilight" beat out releases from Hollywood studios to become the top film at US and Canadian theaters last weekend with an estimated $70.6 million in ticket sales, the second-highest ever for an independent film.

The movie, from fledgling Summit Entertainment LLC, outsold Sony Corp.'s James Bond thriller "Quantum of Solace," and Walt Disney Co.'s animated feature "Bolt," box-office tracker Media By Numbers LLC said today in an e-mailed statement. It was the fourth-best debut this year.

"Twilight" is Summit's biggest hit since the Los Angeles-based studio raised $1 billion in April 2007 from investors led by Merrill Lynch & Co. The movie is adapted from a series of books from Stephenie Meyer that has cumulatively sold more than 10 million copies in the US, according to Publishers Weekly. The film was produced for $37 million, according to Internet Movie Database.

"This movie put Summit on the map and made them a much bigger player," said Gitesh Pandya, editor of BoxOfficeGuru .com, in an interview. "They are giving birth to an all-new franchise. With 'Harry Potter' delayed until next year, this is filling that fantasy void very nicely."

In the movie, based on the first book in the series, high-school student Bella moves to a small town in Washington state. She discovers a family of vampires who prey on animals instead of people and falls for Edward, one of the members.

Summit said over the weekend that it will begin production on a second film, which will be called "New Moon," the same title as the Meyer book it's based upon. The studio is also interested in the rights for the latest installment, "Breaking Dawn," published Aug. 2, said Rob Friedman, Summit's co-chairman and chief executive officer, in an interview last week.

"Twilight's" opening falls only behind that of the most successful independent film debut, "The Passion of the Christ," financed by the actor Mel Gibson, which earned $83.8 million in its first weekend, said Paul Dergarabedian, president of Media By Numbers. It was distributed by Newmarket Films.

"Quantum of Solace," the second in the James Bond series to star Daniel Craig, fell to second place from the top spot last weekend, with $27.4 million.

In "Quantum," Bond seeks to unravel the conspiracy that led to the death of his love, Vesper Lynd, in "Casino Royale." In both films, the producers did away with the campy one-liners featured in earlier Bond movies, along with the focus on gadgets.

"Quantum" cost $225 million to make, according to Internet Movie Database, and it has collected $109 million in the US and Canada since its Nov. 14 domestic release. Worldwide, it has made $418 million, Media By Numbers said.

Disney's "Bolt," an animated film featuring the voices of John Travolta and Miley Cyrus, opened in third place with $27 million. The movie is the first from Walt Disney Animation since Pixar's John Lasseter took the reins in 2006.

In the movie, TV-star canine "Bolt" (Travolta) is accidentally transported across the United States and must overcome great obstacles to return to his owner, Penny (Cyrus), who is also his co-star on the TV show.

" 'Bolt' and 'Twilight' will both make more than $100 million during their box-office run," Pandya said. " 'Twilight' will do it much quicker and fade. 'Bolt' will be able to stay in theaters much longer."

"Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa," from DreamWorks Animation SKG Inc. and Viacom Inc.'s Paramount Pictures, fell to fourth place from second with $16 million. The movie has made $137.5 million since its Nov. 7 debut.

"Role Models," from General Electric Co.'s Universal Pictures, was fifth with $7.25 million, down from third last weekend. Sean William Scott and Paul Rudd play energy-drink salesmen who are sentenced to community service for trashing a company truck and must mentor a teen and a foul-mouthed 10-year-old.