LOS ANGELES : The ‘Twilight’ vampire romance sequel ‘New Moon’ took a record-breaking bite out of the North American box office this weekend, final figures showed on Monday.

The second big-screen installment adapted from Stephenie Meyer’s phenomenally successful books raked in an astounding 142.8 million dollars in three days, the third biggest opening of all time, Exhibitor Relations said.

Only Batman sequel “The Dark Knight” with 158.4 million dollars and “Spider-Man 3″ with 151.1 million dollars have scored bigger openings.

However, the “New Moon” earnings are considered remarkable because the film was released in November, outside of the traditional summer blockbuster season.

Although the movie was unable to dethrone “The Dark Knight” or “Spider-Man 3″ for highest opening weekend, it did set records for biggest midnight opening and opening day, figures showed.

The “Twilight” franchise follows the fortunes of high school teenager Bella Swan, played by Kristen Stewart, and her vampire lover Edward Cullen, played by British heart-throb Robert Pattinson.

The success of “New Moon” left American football drama “The Blind Side” in second place.

The feel-good film, adapted from Michael Lewis’s 2006 book, is based on the real-life journey from rags to riches of Baltimore Ravens star Michael Oher.

Starring Sandra Bullock as the woman who helps Oher realize his dream, it earned a healthy 34.1 million dollars in its opening weekend.

In third place, end-of-the-world film “2012″ brought in 26.4 million dollars, more than double its next-runner-up, “Planet 51,” with 12.3 million.

“Disney’s A Christmas Carol” earned 12.2 million, trailed by acclaimed abuse saga “Precious” with 10.9 million dollars.

In seventh place was satire “The Men Who Stare At Goats,” starring George Clooney and Jeff Bridges as members of a military unit schooled in psychological warfare. The film took 2.8 million dollars.

Eighth spot was taken by comedy “Couples Retreat,” which earned 1.9 million dollars while extra-terrestrial drama “The Fourth Kind” was ninth with 1.7 million.

Michael Jackson concert movie “This Is It” completed the top 10 with 1.6 million dollars.

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