Twihards flock to screen 'New Moon' at Potomac Mills mall

The rain wasn't enough to keep diehard vampire fans away from movie theaters at Potomac Mills mall Thursday night, as "The Twighlight Saga: New Moon," the latest movie in the wildly popular Twilight saga debuted nationwide at midnight.

The film is the second to be adapted from the popular Twilight book series and again stars Kristen Stewart, 19, and Robert Pattinson, 23, in a story about a teenage girl who moves to a small town in Washington state and falls in love with a boy, who is a vampire.

"It's such a great story, and it has something for everyone including teens and adults," said Amanda Marsengill, 25, of Woodbridge. She and her 13-year-old sister, Amanda, stood in the lobby of the AMC Movie Theaters at Potomac Mills mall about 8 p.m. Thursday, holding tickets for a VIP showing of the film.

"Yes, the story is really good, but the actors in the movie are really hot," Amanda said.

As the two recalled their favorite passages from the "New Moon" novel, lines of people awaiting the 12:01 a.m. showing of the film began to form.

While many of those in the lobby were teenage girls, one Fredericksburg man, with a character's name from the movie painted on his forehead, said you can never be too young to get into this film franchise.

"I have a wife who is very convincing, who made me go to see the first movie three times," said 30-year-old Thor Smalling. "After that, I picked up the books and started reading them and really got into them."

The movie follows last year's "Twilight," featuring a similar cast. That movie was screened at 9 p.m. at a discounted rate at the theatre, so fans old and new could catch up and prepare for the new film.

"This is unusual for us to show the first film in series before the sequel comes out, but it was something that we thought would get fans excited, and would allow them to get into the theatre for the first film and then stay for the second," said AMC Theaters spokeswoman Cindy Huffstickler.

The Woodbridge theater planned to show "New Moon" on at least 15 of its 18 screens Thursday. By 8:30 p.m., all but five theaters had already sold out.

A theater in Manassas had nine scheduled showings, including one at 2:45 a.m. All were sold out before midnight.

"New Moon" is the second in a series of four books to be adapted for the big screen from best selling author Stephanie Myer.

She began writing the series in 2003, following a dream she had about an average teenage girl engaged in a conversation with young vampire who lusted after her, according to a statement on her Web site.

When Twilight opened nearly a year ago, the movie generated $70 million in box office sales during its opening weekend. Entertainment insiders speculate "New Moon" could top those earnings, possibly generating more than $100 million this weekend.

Production on a third film in the series, "Eclipse," has already begun.

Staff writer Uriah A. Kiser can be reached at 703-878-8065.