'New Moon' Deserves Oscar Nominations

Could two disparate 2009 news stories combine to make an unlikely third? In June, the Academy of Arts and Sciences announced that the Oscars' Best Picture category would expand from five films to 10. And this past week, "New Moon" opened to a staggering $140.7 million at the domestic box office. Is it possible that a vastly more inclusive Oscar race could welcome Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart's vampire saga to its esteemed contest?
Critics certainly reacted strongly — and often negatively — to "New Moon," but moviegoers came out in droves, and after the mega blockbuster "The Dark Knight" failed to nab a Best Picture nod in 2008, the Academy might be looking to make a change. Or not. The idea of vampires joining the likes of Nelson Mandela seems a bit of a stretch. Yet the Twilighters MTV News spoke to at a recent fan event in Times Square were certain "New Moon" deserved some Oscar love.

"They always give the [nominations] to the boring movies," said Vanesa Reyes, who said she and her friends planned to see the movie four or five times over its first weekend. "Let's give young people a chance to win some Oscars. It's time for a change."

Kim Cawthorne argued such a change has been building for a while. "If 'Twilight' got all this publicity for winning awards at the MTV Movie Awards and other awards shows, then obviously 'New Moon' is going to get it," she said, clutching an Edward Cullen pillow she'd just purchased. "I think all of the movies are going to keep getting it in the years to come."

Of course, a committed fanbase is no harbinger of serious awards-season respect. The "Harry Potter" franchise has never won an Oscar and has only been nominated in secondary categories for music and art direction. But none of that matters to the Twilighters, each of whom argued passionately that "New Moon" deserves some nominations — not just as Best Picture but in other categories as well.

"I think Taylor Lautner [should be nominated]," said Jhanel Huggett. "I really do. He did such an amazing job to transform, so I think he really deserves it."

Twilight's 'New Moon' makes box office soaring

The film rakes in more than double 'Twilight's' launch and breaks records, an early gift for Hollywood.

Recession be damned, Hollywood is on its way to what could be its merriest holiday season ever, thanks to a group of undead teenagers.

"The Twilight Saga: New Moon" posted the third-largest opening in domestic box-office history, not accounting for ticket price inflation, having sold an estimated $140.7 million worth of tickets in the U.S. and Canada from Friday through Sunday. Only Warner Bros.' "The Dark Knight" and Sony's "Spider-Man 3" had bigger openings.
Summit Entertainment's "New Moon" smashed the previous record for a movie opening outside the summer event movie season and more than doubled the launch of the first "Twilight" movie last year.

Though the audience for the new movie was slightly older and included more men than its predecessor, crowds were still overwhelmingly female. The success of the "Twilight" DVD, released in March and the No. 1 seller this year, probably helped increase interest among adults and males and persuade more young women to see the sequel on the big screen.

The good news for the vampire series wasn't bad news for everyone else.

Several other pictures, including "The Blind Side" and "Precious," had strong weekends, driving overall domestic box-office receipts to their second-highest total ever on a non-holiday weekend.

"It's a really good sign for the industry," said Dan Fellman, president of domestic distribution for "Blind Side" distributor Warner Bros. "It just goes to show you good movies can expand the marketplace and we still have strong potential."

For Summit, which at less than 3 years old has very few hits under its belt, "New Moon" is a massive financial success. The movie grossed an additional $118.1 million in 25 foreign countries, giving it a worldwide launch total of $258.8 million. Studios typically keep about half of their films' domestic box-office receipts and 40% from overseas.

"New Moon" cost just under $50 million to produce, making it the least expensive movie ever to open to more than $200 million worldwide. Even including Summit's marketing costs, it is likely to start generating profit from box-office revenue alone, before hitting DVD, pay cable and the other post-theatrical markets where most successful films go into the black.

When "New Moon" broke the record for the biggest opening day in history on Friday, some in the industry thought fans of the first "Twilight" had simply shifted up attendance to the first day with the help of online ticketing.

But "New Moon's" 41% drop on Saturday was the same as its predecessor's, an indication that the vampire series' audience expanded significantly and that "New Moon's" box-office declines in the coming weeks will be similar to "Twilight's."

If it does enjoy the same multiple -- a comparison of final gross to opening -- as "Twilight," "New Moon" could end up grossing nearly $400 million domestically. ("Twilight's" domestic gross was $192.8 million.)

Still, "New Moon" will probably make the vast majority of its money in the next two weeks, leaving plenty of room in the market. That's good news for several other movies that found their audiences this weekend in the wake of the vampire film.

"The Blind Side," financed by Alcon Entertainment, generated the biggest opening ever for a Sandra Bullock movie, with $34.5 million.

It garnered an average audience grade of A-plus, according to market research firm CinemaScore; the only other film to do so this year was Pixar's "Up."

Word-of-mouth could drive "The Blind Side" to more than $150 million if, as Fellman predicted, it keeps playing well through Christmas.

Lionsgate's Sundance Film Festival purchase "Precious" continues to play extremely well, collecting $11 million as it expanded to 629 theaters in most major cities.

Numerous other pictures with big expectations are rolling out in the coming weeks, hoping this weekend's box-office momentum will continue. On Wednesday, Disney's "Old Dogs," Warner Bros.' "Ninja Assassin" and Fox's "The Fantastic Mr. Fox," which has performed well in four theaters for the last two weeks, will enter the fray.

December will see several highly anticipated movies, including Disney's animated "The Princess and the Frog," Paramount's "The Lovely Bones," Warner Bros.' "Sherlock Holmes" and Fox's "Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel" and $300-million-plus event film "Avatar."

Although "New Moon" easily vanquished last weekend's No. 1 picture, "2012," domestically, Sony's $200-million disaster film held on much stronger overseas, grossing $100.5 million in its second weekend and bringing its worldwide total to $449.8 million.

"New Moon" star Kristen Stewart says "be extreme"

In movi "The Twilight Saga: New Moon," lovelorn character Bella Swan gets dumped by her vampire man, sinks into depression and later flies to Italy to pursue him. While that may sound too extreme, actress Kristen Stewart thinks Bella is setting a good example to girls.
"New Moon" debuts in theaters on Friday, and the sequel to last year's "Twilight" is expected to have an opening weekend as extreme as its storyline, judging by early interest.
It is the top advance ticket seller of all time for online outlet Fandango.com, and by Tuesday afternoon, MovieTickets.com was reporting nearly 2200 sold-out shows.
At a Los Angeles premiere, thousands of fans screamed and waved signs for their favorite actors. Social networking website MySpace carried a live stream of the event and lured nearly 3 million viewers.
The first "Twilight" made $384 million at worldwide box offices with its tale of high school student Bella (Stewart) falling in love with vampire Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson). But in "New Moon," he breaks her heart and leaves for Italy.
Months pass as Bella sits despondent at her window during the day and screams in her bed at night. In between, she finds solace with her friend Jacob Black, a werewolf.
Later, when an unexpected visitor tells Bella that Edward is in danger, she hops on a plane to Italy to save him.
When asked if Bella's actions set a bad example for the 13 year-old girls who will be a big part of its audience, Stewart said she thinks the film's message is a good one.
"Be extreme," Stewart said. "Go for it. I think that's the point. I know that this is a movie about immortality and mortality but, like, you live once."
The "Twilight" film series, of which "New Moon" marks the second installment, is based on a series of best-selling books by author Stephenie Meyer, which her publisher says have sold 85 million copies worldwide.
Many fans of the four "Twilight" books are girls in their teenage years and younger. Bella, who narrates the books, is the character with whom they identify.
" Kristen Stewart has a lot of really innate female qualities," "For a character in literature, she think it's awesome that so many girls can look up to her, because she's fickle and unabashedly."
In the books and the movies, Bella and Edward debate whether he should bite her and transform her into a vampire who will live forever, like him.
While Stewart has her view on the film's message, "New Moon" director Chris Weitz, who made 2007 fantasy "The Golden Compass" and teen comedy series "American Pie," differs.

Kristen Stewart Flip Flops On Her 'New Moon' Vote

If you're keeping tally of where the "Twilight" trinity's alliances lie in the embittered Team Jacob vs. Team Edward debate, you may need to do a recount. Sure, it's pretty safe to assume beefy Taylor Lautner is firmly in the Team Jacob camp (duh!). And last year Robert Pattinson surprisingly admitted his preference for the wolf as well, saying at a Q&A session, "I'd go with Jacob. Jacob is way more interesting." But then there's Kristen Stewart who seems to be having a hard time making up her mind.

Previously reported to be a Team Jacob acolyte, the 19-year-old may be a flip-flopper. "I think the whole point of the story is that there isn't a wrong choice," the diplomatic actress told MTV News during a press junket in Beverly Hills. "I go back and forth from being Team Edward and Team Jacob all the time. That's the story," she continued.

"The story wouldn't exist if there wasn't, like, a genuine argument for why she should be with both sides."

But don't chalk one up for Team Switzerland just yet. Though Bella's BFF is logically a better bet, Kristen agrees with many "Twilight" fans that there's just something undeniable about Edward. "On paper, I think Jacob's probably better for her," she explained. "There's ease. He's her best friend. She's always smiling around him. She's safe with him. But there's just something about Edward. It's just that sort of indescribable thing that she can't live without. I think, put in that position, I would have to go with Edward." Now if only we knew her stance on Team Rob...

Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart Hits Hollywood with 'New Moon'

"New Moon" mania took over the Hollywood & Highland Center on Friday night, as one of the first stops on the movie's nationwide Hot Topic promotional tour kicked off with an event featuring concerts by bands from the film's soundtrack, laughs with the cast, and a special appearance by the film's three biggest stars.
"Thank you to you guys," gushed Robert Pattinson, taking the stage alongside Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner in front of hundreds of shrieking, black-T-shirt-clad fans. "Without you, 'Twilight' wouldn't be anywhere."

Well, on Friday night, it was everywhere. In two different storefronts, autographs were being signed by the likes of Kellan Lutz, Ashley Greene and members of the Wolfpack and the Volturi. In the main courtyard, Death Cab for Cutie, Band of Skulls, Sea Wolf and Anya Marina each rocked the stage for a few songs, promoting the "New Moon" soundtrack. Fans wrapped around the enormous outdoor mall like some sort of shrieking Team Edward anaconda.

"It's a massive phenomenon, not because people are into vampires, but because it's this love story that touches everybody," Marina explained. "I just saw the final cut [of 'New Moon'] last night. It's really great!"

Judging from the ear-shattering response of the fans, the cast Q&A was just as great. Billy Burke, Ashley Greene, Jamie Campbell Bower, Elizabeth Reaser, Kellan Lutz, Cameron Bright, Nikki Reed, Chaske Spencer, Kiowa Gordon, Alex Meraz and Bronson Pelletier all jockeyed for space on the crowded stage, waving to fans and smiling as they answered questions that usually started with "What's your favorite...?"

Movie? Burke chose the original "Willy Wonka," Bright picked "Saving Private Ryan," Greene enjoys "Breakfast at Tiffany's," while Kellan Lutz (clad in a "Team Emmett" shirt) selected the never-before-compared duo of "Casablanca" and Tarsem Singh's trippy 2006 flick "The Fall."

"We'll talk about 'Eclipse,' because I'm actually in 'Eclipse,' " laughed Nikki Reed at one point, referencing Rosalie's minimal "New Moon" screentime. "We got to shoot my whole flashback sequence, which was cool."

Wrapping up the night, each star was asked what they would want to do in Los Angeles if their fame didn't prevent them from walking the streets unbothered. "I'd like to take a walk on the beach with Nikki Reed," teased Reaser. "I'd prowl the streets in the nude," added the always-outrageous Jamie Campbell Bower.

"I have a pretty good feeling that we'd be having game night at my house," smiled Greene, looking over at Lutz and saying they'd be enjoying a rousing round of Taboo.

Playing along, Lutz -- who can work a crowd of Twilighters better than a politician at a rally -- said he'd still want his several hundred closest friends to come along. "I'd invite over all you guys too," he said to approving applause.

'New Moon' Stars Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart And Taylor Lautner To Appear At Comic-Con

If you live in the San Diego area, we suggest you buy some ear plugs, stat. Variety is reporting that "New Moon" stars Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner will appear at Comic-Con 2009 this week to promote the "Twilight" sequel. Cue the squealing teens!

Fans have been speculating for months whether the Saga's stars would turn up for the event, with keen interest focused on RPattz who is in the middle of filming "Remember Me" in New York City. According to the report, Robert, Kristen and Taylor will participate in an off-site press conference Thursday morning and will attend a Hall H panel later in the afternoon at the San Diego Convention Center.