Box Office: Transformers 2 Preparing to Break Records

Summer blockbuster season is now in full swing with the release of Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. The sequel to the 2007 hit film opened last night to $16 million in ticket sales for midnight showings across the country. Midnight shows were selling out at a record pace in both regular and IMAX screens. Some theaters even ran 24 hours of the film with shows at 3AM and 6AM selling out as well. So it is no surprise that we are looking at some mighty high box office returns come the end of this 5 day opening. Early reports are tracking this film in the realm of The Dark Knight and Spider man 3. Both films were huge opening week blockbusters. Last summer The Dark Knight took in $67 million in its first day of release. That is the highest grossing opening day for any film in history. Can Transformers 2 pull those same numbers? Keep reading to find out.

The Dark Knight beat all box office records when it was released last July. The film currently holds the record for opening day ($67M), opening weekend ( 3 day total of $158M), and record first five days ($203M). I don’t think Transformers 2 can make quite that much but I do believe that it will be the movie to beat this summer, and possibly this year.

Last night Transformers 2 grossed an estimated $16 million in ticket sales for midnight showings. The Dark Knight hit $18.5 million for it’s midnight run so Transformers 2 is not too far behind that gross. The Dark Knight was released on a Friday, where as Transformers 2 is a Wednesday release, so box office numbers will look a little different. I can’t see Transformers 2 beating Dark Knight’s five day tally of $203 million but it shouldn’t be too far behind.

Opening day for Transformers should be in the $50-55 million range which would put it right around the opening days of Star Wars Episode III and Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest. With an opening day in that range we could see a 5 day opening of around $175 million. That would put Revenge of the Fallen only second to The Dark Knight for most money in the first five days of release. For the sake of comparison, Star Wars Episode III made $172 million in five days and Pirates 2 hit $169 million in the same amount of time.

Optimus Prime and company will have a lucrative opening week. Just how lucrative will it be? Check back with us throughout the next five days as we keep you updated on Transformers 2 box office run. Until then here is our predictions:

Opening day: $55 million

Five day opening weekend: $178 million

Box Office Numbers Courtesy of Boxofficemojo