FUELED BY MIDNIGHT SHOWS, 'REVENGE OF THE FALLEN' CLOBBERS WEDNESDAY B.O. RECORD WITH $60.6M (HWD)

By Paul Dergarabedian

Paramount�s �Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen� has posted the best Wednesday gross and second-best single-day gross of all-time.

Including $16 million in post-midnight screenings, the Michael Bay directed sequel starring Shia LaBeouf and Megan Fox, went on to earn a mind-blowing $60.6 million in a single day. The previous single day record Wednesday performer was �Harry Potter & The Order of the Phoenix� which earned $44.2 million in its single day Wednesday debut including $12 million in midnight screening revenues.

A $60.6 million single-day gross puts �Transformers 2� in extremely rarified box-office territory that is inhabited by only one other film, last year�s �The Dark Knight� which took in $67.2 million in its single-day Friday debut including $18.5 million in midnight screening revenues.

Other top single day performers in order include �Spider-man 3� with $59.8 million on its debut Friday and �Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man�s Chest� with $55.8 in its Friday single-day debut.

Making this all the more impressive is the fact that �Transformers 2� achieved this lofty number on a Wednesday. Even during the summer season when many people are available for midweek moviegoing, this is an incredibly impressive feat.Pitch-perfect marketing, a great release date, appealing stars, the success of the first �Transformers� film and the Michael Bay signature visual style, all combined to work movie fans into a ticket-buying frenzy.