LOS ANGELES — “The Twilight Saga: New Moon” gobbled up $140.7 million the first three days the vampire romance was in theaters, while gaining $258.8 million worldwide, according to studio estimates.

“New Moon” placed third on the all-time domestic chart behind last year’s $158.4 million opening weekend for the Batman blockbuster “The Dark Knight” and 2007’s $151.1 million haul for “Spider-Man 3.”

Among the top-10 all-time openings, “New Moon” is the only one that came outside of Hollywood’s busiest time, the summer season. The movie adaptation of Stephenie Meyer’s next “Twilight” chapter, “Eclipse,” arrives in the heart of summer, next June 30.

“New Moon” continues the story of teen romance between a school girl and a vampire (Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson), with the sequel adding a love triangle with a werewolf (Taylor Lautner).

Opening at No. 2 domestically this weekend was the Warner Bros. football drama “The Blind Side” with $34.5 million. The film stars Sandra Bullock in the real-life story of Baltimore Ravens tackle Michael Oher, who was a homeless teen taken in by a wealthy family and enrolled in private school.

The previous weekend’s top movie, Sony’s disaster tale “2012,” slipped to third-place with $26.5 million, raising its domestic total to $108.2 million. Worldwide, “2012” has taken in $449.8 million.

In limited release, Penelope Cruz and director Pedro Almodovar’s latest collaboration, “Broken Embraces,” opened big with $107,597 in two theaters for a $53,799 average. The Sony Pictures Classics romantic drama centers on a blind screenwriter relating the story of a lost love.

Nicolas Cage and director Werner Herzog’s dark crime thriller “Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans” opened with $257,267 in 27 theaters, averaging $9,528 a cinema. Released by First Look Studios, “Bad Lieutenant” is the story of a drug-crazed cop on a manic murder investigation.

The huge spike in business this weekend sets the stage for big crowds over Thanksgiving, one of the busiest periods of the year at theaters.

Along with “New Moon” and other holdover movies such as Jim Carrey’s holiday-themed “A Christmas Carol,” new releases for Thanksgiving include the Robin Williams-John Travolta comedy “Old Dogs” and the post-apocalypse drama “The Road.”

After a strong run in limited release, George Clooney’s animated comedy “Fantastic Mr. Fox” expands into nationwide release the day before Thanksgiving.

U2 to headline UK festival

LONDON — Organizers say U2 will headline Glastonbury, Britain’s leading summer music festival.

Festival boss Michael Eavis said Monday that the Irish rockers will play the festival’s main stage on June 25.

It will be U2’s first appearance at the event, and comes as Glastonbury celebrates its 40th anniversary.

Eavis said he was delighted to have “the biggest band in the world” in the lineup and promised “more surprises in the pipeline.”

Glastonbury was founded in 1970 and is held on Eavis’ farm in southwest England. It is famous for its eclectic lineup — and the mud that overwhelms the site in rainy years.

Tickets for this year’s festival have sold out even though much of the lineup has yet to be announced. The festival runs June 23 to 27.

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