'Transformers' opens with $16 million

Nabs best midnight run ever for a Wednesday

By PAMELA MCCLINTOCK

Paramount's "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" grossed an estimated $16 million in midnight runs, the best gross ever for a film opening on a Wednesday.

And it's the third highest midnight gross of all time after "The Dark Knight" ($18.5 million) and "Star Wars: Episode III-Revenge of the Sith" ($17 million). "Dark Knight" had the advantage of opening on a Friday. "Revenge of the Sith" opened on a Thursday.

"Transformers 2" opened in roughly 3,000 runs at 12:01 midnight on Wednesday.

“Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix” was the previous record-holder for best midnight gross for a Wednesday release, having earned $12 million in midnight viewings in July 2007.

“Transformers 2” expands today into a total of 4,226 runs.

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