From Deseret News archives:
Local, national theaters bracing for 'Twilight' mania
And Meyer may be rivaling Rowling on the big screen soon, as well. Theater owners around the country are expecting similarly huge things for "Twilight," the new film that's based on the first of her vampire romance novels. (Early projections for its opening weekend range between $60 million to $70 million, which may be too conservative.)
In fact, the local Megaplex Theatres chain has booked screenings at midnight tonight on 69 of its 70 screens between Thanksgiving Point and Ogden, and is nearing sellouts for all of those.
"It's going be super crazy," said Julie Withers, manager of Megaplex's Gateway Center location. Her theater has already sold more than 3,500 reserved-seating tickets for its 12 midnight shows.
In fact, Withers estimates The Gateway has sold nearly 5,000 for regular showings Friday and nearly 3,000 on Saturday.
"There are still tickets available, but I've never seen so many pre-sales before not even for 'Star Wars' and 'Lord of the Rings,"' she said, adding that, in terms of pre-sold tickets, "'Twilight' has already beaten ('Quantum of Solace,' the new James Bond movie) and it hasn't even started yet!"
Officials at the SCERA in Orem say tickets are still available for the theater's midnight screening and for opening-day shows. Of course, the SCERA has more than 700 seats, and spokeswoman April Berlin says the theater is prepared for "Twilight" mania.
"I think we'll be fine. We always have lots of extra staff when we have sold-out shows," she said.
Like the Red Carpet Cinemas, the Megaplex Theatres are planning VIP events for the "Twilight" release. That includes pre-movie entertainment and contests at its five locations, as well as conducting blood and food drives at the Jordan Commons location in Sandy.
In addition to the Megaplexes and Red Carpet locations, in Salt Lake City the film is booked at both the Carmike 12 and Ritz 15 Cinemas, both Century 16 locations (Sandy and South Salt Lake), the Cinemark 24 at Jordan Landing and the Westates Holladay Center.
Information on showtimes and locations for "Twilight" is available at various chain theater sites, as well as movie ticket sales sites like www.fandango.com.
E-mail: jeff@desnews.com
Comments
- Suspect charged in Mumbai attack 10:45 a.m.
- Homer king Bonds made splash 10:33 a.m.
- U.N. climate conference opens 10:16 a.m.
- Stocks rise, investors await Bernanke 9:53 a.m.
- Pentagon: 16K troops to start surge 9:45 a.m.
- Feds mull mustang relocation plan 9:40 a.m.
- Officer fatally shot near Pittsburgh 9:35 a.m.
- Herzog, Harvey elected baseball HOF 9:32 a.m.
- U.K. paper: U.S. in lead over England 9:29 a.m.
- AOL ends ties with Time Warner 9:25 a.m.
- BYU and Utah's bowl games
- BYU professor remembered
- Cougars going back to Vegas
- Y., U. to learn bowl destinations
- TCU to play Boise in Fiesta Bowl
- Utah/BYU rivalry can be more civil
- Utes excited to go to San Diego
- Bring the true spirit of Christmas
- The forgotten ship: USS Utah
- Y. profs: Beck not all-knowing
- Letters: Liberal because LDS
261 - Y. profs: Beck not all-knowing
232 - Hate not limited to 1 in-state rivalry
190 - Aggies shoot past Cougars
179 - TCU to play Boise in Fiesta Bowl
167 - N.Y. Senate rejects gay marriage
131 - George lost in rivalry hatefest
115 - Cougars going back to Vegas
108 - Ed Smart 'appalled' at testimony
98 - Harpring's NBA career is over
95
Amazon.com, Target.com, Sears.com, Walmart.com, Kmart.com and...
That does it — I'm having an affair! Thanks to Tiger Woods, David...
First, a big thank you to all who posted questions here for me to ask...
Lets not forget the US just recently beat world #1 spain and barely lost to...
It is difficult being the ugly RED-headed step child isn’t it. You...
Happy to be going to the LV Bowl instead of the flower bowl or whatever they...
I've read both of your comments a couple of times and I still don't...
The fact of this is that both TCU and BSU are GREAT teams who deserve alot of...
"Most Americans still believe God is in control...." Reminds me of the...
BYU Blue, I wish you would understand the point of Ash's articles - I am...
Bang, hit it dead on! Great comment, and perfect answer! Let the little...
Are you seriously blaming the coach? The same players who have been...
Ok first of all the MWC conference would not replace any bcs conference in...



You can be the first to comment on this story.