The second-to-last installment of the hit vampire series, starring Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner, pulled in a staggering $30.3 million (£18.9 million) after Thursday's (17Nov11) midnight showings alone.

Coming in at a distant second place was animated film Happy Feet 2, which opened with takings of $22 million (£13.8 million), while Immortals dropped to third place with earnings of $12.2 million (£7.6 million).

Rounding out the top five were Adam Sandler's comedy Jack and Jill ($12 million/£7.5 million) and family film Puss in Boots ($10.7 million/£6.7 million) at fourth and fifth place respectively