New 'Twilight' instalment enjoys bumper opening weekend in US

'The Twilight Saga: Eclipse' has taken $68.5m (€54.7m) in its first weekend of release in the US.

The David Slade-directed movie - the third Stephenie Meyer-penned novel to be turned into a film - hit the number one spot in the US, with 3-D picture 'The Last Airbender' taking in $41.6m (€33.2m) and coming in second over the weekend.

In total the film, starring Robert Pattinson as vampire Edward Cullen and Kristen Stewart as his human girlfriend, has taken $261m (€208m) at the box office internationally since its release on June 30.

The fantasy movie has also broken the record for the widest release in film history, screening in 4,416 cinemas across the US - beating the previous holder 'Iron Man 2', which was shown in 4,380 cinemas.

Last week 'The Twilight Saga: Eclipse' broke box office records in the US after it took $30m (€23.7m) in its first showing after opening at midnight on June 1.