Christian Bale’s "Terminator Salvation" opens strong

Los Angeles, May 22: The witching hour was anything but a horror show for "Terminator Salvation."Warner Bros. unspooled the sci-fi-action feature -- the fourth "Terminator" movie and the first in almost six years -- in 3,450 theaters Thursday, with thousands of the venues programing midnight Wednesday performances for the Sam Worthington/Christian Bale-starring film.

Data on the picture`s total Thursday coin won`t be in until Friday, but early estimates suggested that "Salvation" midnight performances alone fetched more than $3 million domestically. Though not a record, the sum serves as the first hard evidence of a potent fan base for the film. "Salvation" is touted to do USD 70 million or more over its first five days in release, a projection based on an anticipated big Thursday tally and robust business expected during the always lucrative Memorial Day weekend. Sony Pictures is handling the lion`s share of international distribution for "Salvation," which will see most of its foreign debuts in two weeks. On Friday, 20th Century Fox bows its action-comedy sequel "Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian" in 4,096 locations. And Paramount unspools the Wayans brothers` spoof "Dance Flick" with some 2,300 playdates. Bureau Report