New 'Spider-Man' snares $7.5M in midnight shows

LOS ANGELES (AP) ? The new Spider-Man has launched with the same midnight magic as the old one.

"The Amazing Spider-Man" pulled in $7.5 million from its debut screenings Tuesday just after midnight. According to distributor Sony Pictures, that matches the amount that "Spider-Man 3" took in from its first midnight screenings in 2007 on the way to what was then a record $151.1 million opening weekend.

Midnight screenings generally have become bigger business since then, hitting a peak as fans shelled out $43.5 million for midnight shows of the "Harry Potter" finale last summer.

While "The Amazing Spider-Man" is well back in the pack by comparison, its midnight debut hints at strong box office through the Fourth of July weekend, with industry expectations as high as $120 million in its first six days.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/4e67281c3f754d0696fbfdee0f3f1469/Article_2012-07-03-Box%20Office-Spider-Man/id-485366c9903844aa82797210ab296377

golden globe nominations 2012 war in iraq war in iraq government shutdown