Eclipse opens big in US

'The Twilight Saga: Eclipse' has grossed $68.5 million in its opening weekend in the US, as well as beating the record for the widest cinematic release in the country.

'The Twilight Saga: Eclipse' has taken $68.5 million 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 $41.6 million 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 $261 million 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 $30 million in its first showing after opening at midnight on July 1.