User blog:Ceauntay/'Heroes' flies a record $15.3 million from post-midnight screenings for non-sequel



The first installment of the "Heroes" franchise has just begin and has already had a enormous opening when it premiered last night.

"Heroes: A New Beginning", the first part of the four-part franchise following by a sequel "Heroes: The New Heroes" coming November 21, 2012, sold in $15.3 million in 3,215 theaters, according to an estimate from distributor Warner Bros.

It did surprisingly strong when it nearly did better than "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" with $16 million. And the best part is that it's already the fifth biggest midnight gross of 2011 so far.

Still, 3D ''Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows -- Part 2" still holds the record with $43.5 million from this summer for making most money during midnight screenings, followed by another 3D "Jane Hoop Elementary: The Final Rush -- Part 2" to $40.1 million. Both films than went to make over $90 million throughout the day nationwide.

"The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn -- Part 1" failed to overtake both films by earning just $30.3 million by taking third in history and of 2011, while "Sonic X: The Final Stand" ranked fourth place in 2011.

When most films made most of that money are sequel, "A New Beginning" is the first non-sequel film to make that amount of money. Fandango states that already 75 percent have sold out tickets. Ticket sales estimates the film's box office total to $100 million in its five-day Thanksgiving weekend.

The five-day Thanksgiving weekend record was previous held by "Toy Story 2" with $80.6 million in November 1999.