Twilight’s 'New Moon' fastest-selling ticket in US, opening worldwide

(AFP PHOTO / Carl Court.)

The Twilight Saga: New Moon ticket sales are breaking records at online outlets in the US, accounting for 90 to 94 percent of sales for the second instalment in the teen vampire series. But moviegoers in Europe and countries around the world will get the first peak at the much anticipated film.

In advance of the 12:01 am Friday launch in America, on Wednesday, November 18, New Moon opens in France, Italy, Spain, Belgium, and Switzerland. It releases in Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, Argentina, Greece, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Georgia, Russia, Sweden, Thailand, and the Netherlands on November 19.

Based on the last film's performance, expectations are high overseas. The original Twilight earned $192.2 million at the international box office, matching the US gross. Strongest responses were in France, Germany, Australia, and Spain.

As of November 14, the Top 5 Advance Ticket-Sellers on the US online outlet Fandango.com were:

1. New Moon (2009)
2. Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005)
3. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009)
4. The Dark Knight (2008)
5. Twilight (2008)

In addition to the thousands of fans on the streets out at the Los Angeles premiere, November 16, to see the stars Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner, three million watched the red carpet arrivals on a live webcast on a special MySpace page. The event will be recast later this week.
Site: www.myspace.com/newmoonpremiere

According to a Fandango.com survey of 2,000+ New Moon ticket-buyers:

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

The re-release of the first film, Twilight, is this week's no.2 ticket-seller.

RC