Setting up what will be an astonishing first weekend, TheTwilight Saga: New Moon grossed an estimated $72.7m on its first day through Summit Entertainment to beat the old mark set by The Dark Knight.

The vampire sequel is playing in 4,024 in North America and smashed The Dark Knight’s opening day record of $62.2m set in July 2008. The new release has already grossed more than Twilight amassed in its entire first weekend and will overhaul that film’s $192.8m final tally within days.

New Moon enters the weekend having also shattered the midnight launch record after grossing a best ever for midnights shows of $26.3m.

By comparison Twilight grossed $35.9m on in its first day [November 21, 2008] and took $69.6m over the first weekend. The film finished on $192.8m domestically and $384.9m worldwide.

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