'New Moon' beats weekend estimates with a staggering $142.8 million

If it couldn't get any better for Summit Entertainment, the final numbers from the monster opening of "The Twilight Saga: New Moon" came in on Monday and the vampire flick beat even the most optimistic projects. 

Originally estimated at $140.7 million, the super sequel found another $2 million on Sunday to bring it's 3-day actual total to a stunning $142.8 million.  With the Thanksgiving weekend fast approaching and the only new competition including the Disney comedy "Old Dogs," Warner Bros. "Ninja Assassin" and the nationwide expansion of "The Fantastic Mr. Fox," the Chris Weitz directed film could conservatively end the holiday frame with anywhere from a $220-230 million

On the international front, "New Moon" set records overseas with the second highest opening day ever in the U.K. and Ireland (behind only local hero James Bond's "Quantum of Solace"), became the biggest weekend opener in Australia, was France's second biggest opening  of the year and the fifth largest opening weekend in Italian cinema history.

In other box office news, "2012" crossed the hundred million mark with a new total of $108 million and both "Law Abiding Citizen" and "Michael Jackson's This Is It" passed $70 million.

Look for more box office updates as the Holiday frame progresses on HitFix.