英语文摘:"Eclipse" expected to wake up sleepy summer box office

BEIJING, June 30 (Xinhuanet) -- The vampire film "The Twilight Saga: Eclipse" is set to make its debut on Wednesday, which is expected to get the sleepy summer box office jolted awake.

"It's been kind of a bummer summer, but thank goodness for films like the 'Karate Kid,' 'Toy Story 3' and now 'Eclipse' because it just takes a couple of films to turn things around," said Paul Dergarabedian, head of Hollywood.com Box Office, Reuters reported.

Summit Entertainment, the studio behind "Eclipse," said it expects the movie will earn $150 million in the U.S. and Canada over six days from Wednesday through the Independence Day weekend in the U.S..

Cast members Robert Pattinson (L), Kristen Stewart (C) and Taylor Lautner pose at the premiere of "The Twilight Saga: Eclipse" during the Los Angeles Film Festival at Nokia theatre at L.A. Live in Los Angeles June 24, 2010.

"The advance ticket sales are as good as for 'New Moon,' and certainly the tracking data are," Summit distribution topper Richie Fay said Tuesday.

"But the real question is whether the moviegoers feel they need to catch the movie the first day or two or maybe think they can wait until the weekend. It's really difficult to say how the grosses will come in.

"The Twilight Saga: New Moon" bowed with $142.8 million in November en route to $296.6 million in total U.S. and Canadian coin. The original "Twilight" unspooled in November 2008 with $69.6 million and wrapped with $192.8 million domestically.