User blog:VampiresAndWerewolfsareAwesomeAsHell23/Breaking Dawn Part 2 is breaking Box Office Records

Twilight: Breaking Dawn - Part 2 topped the worldwide weekend box office with $340.9 million opening, including $141.3 million domestically from 4,070 theaters and $199.6 million internationally from 61 markets. It's the franchise's best global opening, thanks to massive international business.

In North America, Breaking Dawn 2 wasn't able to match the $142.8 million opening of New Moon on the same weekend in 2009, but it did open ahead of the $138.1 million grossed by Breaking Dawn - Part 1 on the same weekend last year, thanks in part to especially strong Saturday traffic and an A CinemaScore.

Overseas, Breaking Dawn 2 opened well ahead of previous Twilight films in nearly every territory.

Directed by Bill Condon, Breaking Dawn 2 returns Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner in the lead roles for a final time. The Twilight franchise put Summit Entertainment on the map and has been a resounding victory for all involved. Breaking Dawn 2 has pushed Lionsgate, which merged with Summit this year, past the $1 billion mark in ticket sales for the first time.

Breaking Dawn 2 drew more males than any previous title in the series, who made up 21 percent of those buying tickets. In terms of age, 50 percent of the audience was 25 years and older, reflecting the aging fanbase.

In other box-office news, Sam Mendes' Skyfall finished the weekend with a worldwide total of $669.2 million to become the top-grossing James Bond pic of all time.

Skyfall, starring Daniel Craig, grossed a stellar $41.5 million in its second weekend domestically and pushed its North American total to $161.3 million. Overseas, the film has earned a massive $507.9 million for partners MGM, Eon Productions and Sony.

Steven Spielberg's awards contender Lincoln also made headlines as it expanded nationwide. The historical drama took in a strong $21 million from 1,775 theaters for a location average of $11,831. Lincoln, which opened in a handful of markets the previous weekend, has taken in a total of $22.4 million.

The DreamWorks film, made in association with Participant Media and distributed by Disney domestically, came in No. 3, despite its modest screen count. Lincoln stars Daniel Day-Lewis as the iconic 16th president. Fox co-financed Lincoln and is handling the film internationally.

Lincoln is doing particularly well on both coasts and will up its theater count to 2,000 locations Wednesday in time for the long Thanksgiving holiday.

A pair of high-profile awards contenders debuted at the specialty box office: David O. Russell's critically acclaimed Silver Linings Playbook and Joe Wright's Anna Karenina. Both films did solid but not spectacular business.

Silver Linings, from The Weinstein Co., grossed $458,430 as it opened in 16 theaters in select cities for a location average of $28,652. The film stars Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, Robert De Niro and Jacki Weaver.

The Weinstein Co. said it couldn't have been happier with the results, noting that the film is playing well in both art house and commercial theaters. Silver Linings earned an A- CinemaScore.

Originally, Silver Linings was supposed to expand nationwide over Thanksgiving, but last week the Weinstein Co. decided to scale back and roll the film out more slowly in a bid to build momentum throughout awards season. The move likely was prompted, at least in part, by soft tracking. On Wednesday, Silver Linings will be playing in a total of 400 theaters.

Focus Features' Anna Karenina, starring Keira Knightley, also opened in 16 theaters in select cities, grossing $315,395 for a location average of $19,712. The film already has earned $10.8 million overseas.

Wright's innovative take on the classic Russian novel has drawn mixed reviews in the U.S., but Focus did succeed in luring core art house moviegoers. Anna Karenina will add additional theaters Wednesday.

Source: Hollywood Reporter (Breaking Dawn 2 breaks world box office record)