Based on estimates made on Sunday, Catherine Hardwick (THIRTEEN, LORDS OF DOGTOWN) now has the largest opening weekend for a female director. TWILIGHT brought in approx $70.6 million dollars, beating the old record held by Mimi Leder. whose film, DEEP IMPACT,  had opened at $41.1 million dollars back in 1998.

Plans for a sequel based on the 2nd book, NEW MOON, are already under way, but it’s not known if Catherine Hardwick will helm it.  She’s said,  “I want to be sure that it’s going to be done right. I don’t want to rush into it. It’s not like “FRIDAY THE 13TH” or “HALLOWEEN,” you can’t just do it super fast and knock another one out. I want to understand their plans and all that.”  However, Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart are already on board for the second installment.

Technorati Tags: Catherine Hardwick, Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, TWILIGHT, Vampire Movies

The movie hasn’t even come out yet, but TWILIGHT, starring Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson, has already set a record – its soundtrack album hit #1 on the Billboard 200 chart this week, outperforming AC/DC’s Black Ice at #2, followed by the soundtrack to Disney’s High School Musical 3 at #3, Hinder’s Take It to the Limit at #4 with Pink’s Funhouse taking spot #5.

It’s highly unusual for a soundtrack to top the charts before the movie has even hit the screens, much less take the #1 spot.

The movie, based on Stephanie Meyer’s bestselling series, comes out in theaters November 21st.  Stewart (ZATHURA) plays Bella Swan, a teenager who finds herself in love with a vampire played by Pattinson (HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE).

Based on the reception the album has already received, it’s probably a safe bet the movie itself will also score big at the box office.  (Pattinson has been continually mobbed at pre-screening events by hundreds and thousands of young girls trying to get a glimpse of the actor bringing the supernatural “Edward Cullen” to life.)

If you want to check out the music for yourself, click on the box below:

Technorati Tags: Kristen Stewart, MUSIC, Robert Pattinson, TWILIGHT