'Twilight' to infuse lackluster year at B.O.

Summit's 'Breaking Beginning -- Part 1,' which opens in 4,061 locations Friday, could gross around $150 million.'Happy Ft Two' will raise the weekend with anticipation within the $32 million-$35 million range.The Descendants opens in 29 locations.Domestic box office continues to be running 2.5% behind the pace of 2010, which already had its "Twilight" installment around the books by this time around. But even when "Breaking Beginning -- Part 1" hits the greatest estimations of $150 million -- among the greatest domestic bows ever -- pricier 2011 in the future any nearer to tugging despite this past year.Like Warner Bros.' "Harry Potter and also the Deathly Hallows: Part 1" released this same weekend this past year to some similarly B.O.-breaking $125 million, the seventh-greatest domestic bow ever."Breaking Beginning" grows Friday to 4,061 locations after 3,251 Thursday night time tests. Though some monitoring services say it might hit north of $150 million through Sunday, Summit has much more modest anticipation, varying between $110 million and $125 million.Unlike a few days ago this past year, which in fact had very little else among new records, this weekend's family-specific three dimensional counterprogrammer, "Happy Ft Two," will raise the weekend with anticipation within the $32 million-$35 million range. Warners launches the film today at 3,606 Stateside locations, which roughly 2,800 have been in three dimensional, with 293 Imax locations.Fox Searchlight's "The Descendants," meanwhile, grows right now to 29 Stateside locations, after bowing Wednesday at five playdates to some solid opening-day per-screen average just shy of $8,000."Breaking Beginning" already is off and away to a good begin in overseas areas, including Australia and France, for any total believed $8.9 million. In Gaul, the film obtained $3.8 million, which makes it the nation's third-greatest opening day, behind "Deathly Hallows: Part 2" and "The Adventures of Tintin."The 2nd-to-last "Twilight" pic, launched worldwide via local distribs, opens day-and-date inside a total 54 nations outdoors the U.S.Summit released the 3rd "Twilight" film, "Eclipse," throughout summer time 2010, by having an opening six-day domestic tally of $158 million the franchise's second pic, "New Moon," opened up November. 2009 with $143 million.Experts the 16-month delay between "Eclipse" and "Breaking Beginning" likely assisted build anticipation for that latter pic, in addition to lowering "Twilight" oversaturation. In comparison, the series' second and third payments had only an eight-month release gap.Allocated in a reported $110 million, "Breaking Beginning" is headed for that steps for success toward profitability.The film will have best with women of any age, that could hurt "Happy Ft 2," as moms might be preoccupied by "Twilight." Toon must have a powerful hold among families with tykes, fighting just with 4th-frame holdover "Puss in Boots."The outlet three dimensional share for "Puss," at 51%, points to so-so business for "Happy Ft" in three dimensional. Summer time characters like "Cars 2" delayed using the format, with 40%, while similar three dimensional family photos around this time around this past year, for example "Twisted" and "Megamind" did better in three dimensional, with 56% and 66%, correspondingly.Warners is not expecting "Happy Ft Two" to complement its predecessor, which opened up to $41.5 million in 2007.Fizziology, which is an expert in monitoring social-media sites, reported that both "Happy Ft Two" and "Breaking Beginning" possess a 70% positive rating all social-media posts. The organization also stated that "Happy Ft Two" has more online interest than "Puss in Boots" and "Kung Fu Panda 2" did.Now it is simply an issue whether that chatter can result in tickets offered. Contact Andrew Stewart at andrew.stewart@variety.com