Michael Bay has unleashed his Transformers: Dark of the Moon on the world earning $13.5 million in Tuesday preview and midnight screenings. Paramount Pictures reports that approximately $5.5 million came from 3-D sneaks in 2,700 theaters starting at 9pm and approximately $8 million from post midnight shows in about 3,000 theaters in both 2-D and 3-D. 70% of post-midnight business was in 3-D.
The first Transformers movie in 2007 opened at 8pm and earned $8.8 million including post midnight dollars. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen earned $16.6 million in midnight showings in 2009. As comparison The Hangover Part II grabbed $10.4 million in midnights heading into memorial day weekend while Pirates of The Caribbean: On Stranger Tides pillaged $4.7 in midnight business back in May.
