“Terminator Salvation” has launched with $13.37 million at 3,480 playdates as the fourth version of the franchise dominated Thursday’s domestic moviegoing.

The first-day “Terminator Salvation” take included about $3 million from midnight showings. Its Thursday take represents 54% of the opening day gross for “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull,” which launched a year ago on the same Thursday and wound up the Memorial Day weekend with $152 million.

“Terminator Salvation,” which is adding 50 venues Friday, looks likely to end the holiday frame with at least $60 million. The third entry in the franchise, “Terminator: Rise of the Machines,” racked up a $44 million opening weekend six years ago on its way to a $150 million domestic cume.

“Terminator Salvation” sees serious competition arrive Friday from 20th Century Fox’s debut of comedy sequel “Night at the Museum: Battle for the Smithsonian” at 4,095 — though the comedy sequel’s aimed at families while “Terminator” relies on its core male demo.

“Terminator Salvation,” financed by Halcyon Co., is handled by Warner Bros. domestically while Sony’s releasing the pic in overseas markets with Asian launches next weekend and other major territories in two weeks. “Smithsonian” goes day and date overseas this weekend with 8,200 playdates in 93 markets.

The all-time domestic record for a Thursday opening day was set four years ago when “Star Wars Episode III — Revenge of the Sith” launched with $50 million.

[Source] Variety