To the surprise of absolutely no one: Teenage vampires once again rule the world. "Breaking Dawn - Part 2," the fourth and final film in the "Twilight" saga sunk its teeth deep in ticket sales its opening weekend like it was an impressionable girl from the wrong side of the tracks, easily taking home the top box office spot with $141.3 million.

The numbers scored "Breaking Dawn - Part 2" the eighth biggest opening weekend of all time, strangely enough, just behind "The Twilight Saga: New Moon," which earned $142,839,137.

"Breaking Dawn -- Part 2" was also a hit internationally in its opening weekend. Opening on Nov. 14 in France, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium, Sweden, and French and Italian-speaking Switzerland, the film took in $199.6 million in its international debut this weekend, giving it an early global total of $340.9 million.

If numbers hold the way they're performing right now, Summit Entertainment estimates the film will likely finish just above $700 million. Which sounds logical enough, the last three "Twilight" films - "Breaking Dawn -- Part 1," "Eclipse," and "New Moon" - earned $712.2 million, $709.8 million, and $698.5 million, respectively.

The phenomenon of "Twilight" — from Stephanie Meyer's novels, to their film counterparts — has evolved into one of the most profitable franchises in modern pop culture. According to Box Office Mojo, the first "Twilight" in 2008 took in $69.6 million its opening weekend and went on to earn $192.8 million overall.

"Breaking Dawn - Part 2" may not have set a franchise record with its opening weekend ticket sales, but the cult of Twi-hards is clearly still very strong. The film earned a $34,717 per theater average from its 4,070 theaters - the best average at the entire box office. And while those numbers are expected to drop following the opening weekend rush, there's certainly a chance for repeat viewings to boost overall sales, especially considering Thanksgiving weekend.

"Twilight" has been an incredibly consistent franchise, and at that, a very insular one as well. Say what you will about the potential crossover appeal of boy wizards, Hobbits, and superheroes, the "Twilight" films just don't seem to have the same power to attract casual viewers by virtue of not being left out of the national conversation.

The franchise is an undeniable zeitgeist, but if you haven't already been initiated into the world of Bella and Edward, the final film in the franchise isn't likely to make too many in roads with new fans, especially if you're male and over the age of 12. Although, CinemaScore polled "Breaking Dawn - Part 2" audiences its opening weekend, and found that 79 percent were female, and 21 percent male, the highest male ratio ever for a "Twilight" film. So, maybe this is the movie in the franchise to break the mold.

The complete list of the weekend's top five grossing films were:

1. The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn -- Part 2 -- $141.3 million

2. Skyfall -- $41.5 million

3. Lincoln -- $21.0 million

4. Wreck-It Ralph -- $18.3 million

5. Flight -- $8.6 million

"Part 2" picks up immediately where the previous film left off, with heroine Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart) experiencing her first moments as a newly transformed vampire. While her husband, Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson), reintroduces her to his coven, Bella also reunites with her werewolf pal Jacob Black (Taylor Lautner) and meets the half-human/half-vampire daughter, Renesmee (Mackenzie Foy), she carried and birthed as a human.

"Breaking Dawn - Part 2" opened in theaters at 10 p.m. Nov. 15. The film represented 92 percent of that day's ticket sales, creating thousands of sold-out late-night screenings across the U.S, according to Fandango.com.