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Precisely one year ago marked the manifestation of a saga, whose franchise has made its mark in history. It is not to our surprise that Twilight’s sequel, New Moon is set to smash the box office with record-breaking numbers.

The pandemonium began November of 2008 with the film Twilight. Critics watched closely as the book written by Stephanie Meyer turn movie made its way into the hearts and pockets of teens, tweens, and mothers around the globe. Accredited with the cyclical 80’s and early 90’s success of sexy eroticized vampires and werewolves coupled with fresh young actors, the timing was perfect for a whole new generation of tweens and teenagers alike. Twilight grossed more than $410 million worldwide while simultaneously pushing Meyer’s book series to the moon with 83 million copies sold worldwide.

Fast-forward to November 2009, poised to gross an unprecedented $100 million in the box office this weekend, New Moon will break this year’s record as a first week blockbuster. Set in Forks, Washington, New Moon takes up where Twilight left off starring Kristen Stewart as Bella, the hopeless romantic, Robert Pattinson as Edward Cullen, Bella’s vampire boyfriend and Taylor Lautner as Jacob Black, Bella’s Native American friend who in New Moon transforms into a wolf. Having gone from casting calls to teen idol status gracing the covers of Vanity Fair, Entertainment Weekly and Bazaar to name a few, these three stars are at the epicenter of pop culture. Moreover, rumor has it that Kristen and Robert are a couple which makes for great press by intriguing fans and deepening anticipation for the theatrical release which drastically ups the ante when it comes to the franchise’s merchandise sales and profits.

The Twilight franchise continues to cash in on multiple streams of revenue with lucrative consumer products consisting of jewelry, t-shirts, makeup, trading cards, candy, games and Barbie Dolls amongst others. The estimated net-worth for the Twilight franchise is well beyond the billion-dollar mark and growing placing the Twilight name among the ranks of sequel stalwarts like Harry Potter. Riding the Twilight wave of hoopla and success, strategically it has been announced recently that New Moon’s follow up, Eclipse will hit the big screen June 30, 2010. Twilight will preserve its relevancy in pop culture by announcing future sequel release dates during current sequel premieres, heighten the celebrity of its star cast by keeping them in the paparazzi eye, saturating the market and expanding the franchise with each movie release. Watch closely as the Twilight franchise heads into the stratosphere. In the mean time check out New Moon this weekend as it comes with much anticipation, action, romance, and thrills.

Mighty Milord! Without Sucka! Succotash!

Twilight: New Moon Trailer. In theaters November 20, 2009