THE TWILIGHT SAGA: BREAKING DAWN - PART 1 CROSSES 5 MILLION DVD/BLU-RAY UNIT MARK IN FIRST 11 DAYS OF RELEASE

SANTA MONICA, Calif. and VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Feb. 22, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Summit Entertainment, a LIONSGATE® company, announced today that the home entertainment release of the current installment in the studio's blockbuster TWILIGHT SAGA film franchise, THE TWILIGHT SAGA: BREAKING DAWN – PART 1, has sold over 5 million DVD and Blu-ray units in the first 11 days of release.  DVD sales for the film, which became available at retail on February 11th, are approximately 13% ahead of sales of the third film in the franchise, THE TWILIGHT SAGA: ECLIPSE, at the same point in its release.  Digital sales of THE TWILIGHT SAGA: BREAKING DAWN – PART 1 are also strong with over 74,000 electronic sell through transactions (53% ahead of THE TWILIGHT SAGA: ECLIPSE at the same time) and over 175,000 video on demand transactions (162% ahead of THE TWILIGHT SAGA: ECLIPSE at the same time).

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Steve Nickerson, Summit's President of Home Entertainment, stated, "The sales to date of THE TWILIGHT SAGA: BREAKING DAWN – PART 1 are a testament to The Twilight Saga fans' commitment to and passion for the stories created by Stephenie Meyer.  We are pleased that we could bring this film to the fans at this time of year, especially given the storyline, with the romance of the wedding and honeymoon."

THE TWILIGHT SAGA: BREAKING DAWN – PART 1 has grossed over $700 million worldwide at the box office to date since its theatrical release on November 18, 2011.  The next chapter in THE TWILIGHT SAGA, THE TWILIGHT SAGA: BREAKING DAWN – PART 2 will arrive in theatres on November 16, 2012. Academy Award® winner Bill Condon directed both the first and second part of the two-part finale starring Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner. The project, based on the fourth novel in author Stephenie Meyer's Twilight series, was written by Melissa Rosenberg with Wyck Godfrey, Karen Rosenfelt and Stephenie Meyer producing. 

About THE TWILIGHT SAGA film series
THE TWILIGHT SAGA film series stars Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson and tells the story of 17-year-old Bella Swan who moves to the small town of Forks, Washington to live with her father, and becomes drawn to Edward Cullen, a pale, mysterious classmate who seems determined to push her away. But neither can deny the attraction that pulls them together...even when Edward confides that he and his family are vampires.  The action-packed, modern day vampire love story TWILIGHT, the first film in the series, was released in theatres on November 21, 2008 to a blockbuster reception. The second installment of the film franchise, THE TWILIGHT SAGA: NEW MOON was released November 20, 2009 the third installment, THE TWILIGHT SAGA: ECLIPSE was released June 30, 2010, and THE TWILIGHT SAGA: BREAKING DAWN – PART 1 was released on November 18, 2011.

About Summit Entertainment
Summit Entertainment, a LIONSGATE® company, is a worldwide theatrical motion picture development, financing, production and distribution studio. The company handles all aspects of marketing and distribution for both its own internally developed motion pictures as well as acquired pictures. Summit also represents international sales for both its own slate and third party product.

For further information, please contact:
Paul Pflug
Summit Entertainment
323-658-1555
[email protected]

For Lionsgate corporate inquiries, please contact:
Peter D. Wilkes
Lionsgate
310-255-3726
[email protected]

SOURCE LIONSGATE