'Eclipse', the latest episode of the 'Twilight' saga, is now playing in 4,468 theaters in North America – making it the widest opening on record – and the movie’s vampires and werewolves are expectedly setting the box office on fire.

'Eclipse' sold $68.5 million worth of tickets on Wednesday, breaking a record for the biggest mid-week gross in history, according to Summit Entertainment, the studio behind the series.

'Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen,' which sold $62 million on a Wednesday last summer, will now have to make do with second place.

Opening-day audiences were 80 percent female, which has become standard for the 'Twilight' series, based on the best-selling books by Stephenie Meyer. It looks like boys still aren't too bothered by the "should I, shouldn't I" fable.

But the question for 'Eclipse' was never about whether it would open big – that was a given – but whether it would generate repeat business and lure even more fans to the franchise.

Strong word-of-mouth and good reviews in the press might tempt some newcomers to take the plunge. If that happens, then this episode will end up attracting the most newcomers alongside the so-called 'Twi-Hards.'