Thursday Night Trek Screenings Draw $7 Million

Last night's early Star Trek screenings point to a wholly unprecedented windfall for the franchise, earning an estimated $7 million in five hours' worth of showings nationwide. Some box-office watchers are modulating their weekend predictions slightly upward, with one forecasting that with a good Friday showing, Trek's "number for the opening 4 days could start with an 8." Way to go out on a limb, I guess -- but why stop there?

Like I said this morning, Trek isn't a movie, it's a phenomenon. And it's due for phenomenal returns based on the resources and intelligence with which Paramount put this movement together; even if fanboys fueled the Thursday rush, this is a crossover moment all the way. Keep your eye on the $90 million mark, and watch out for flying corks Monday morning at the 'Mount.

· Thursday Night Previews Deliver a Possible $6.5M-$7.5M! [Big Hollywood]