Twilight: Eclipse and The Last Airbender Open Big Over July 4th Weekend

The Twilight Saga: Eclipse opened to the top spot at the box office for the Fourth of July weekend. $69 million for the weekend brings its total to $161 million since opening on Wednesday. Compared to New Moon it actually has made $3 million less through the first five days of release. The Twilight series has astounding consistency. Though it doesn’t pick up new fans along it completely sustains its very passionate fan base.

Despite absolutely horrid reviews The Last Airbender was able to make $40.5 million over the weekend to take its total to $56.8 million since opening on Thursday. That puts it above what industry expectations were going in which were then adjusted downwards due to the reviews and some terrible word-of-mouth forming. Including Monday should put it right around $70 million and while drop-offs are expected to be large Paramount has to be very relieved. Screenings in 3D provided a boost even though audiences are starting to become aware that it is not worthwhile paying extra for films converted to 3D in post-production.

Rounding out the top five was Toy Story 3 which has now made $289 million after a $30 million weekend, Grown Ups dropping 52% to $19 million, and Knight and Day dropping 48% to just over $10 million.