'New Moon' breaks advance sales records

New Moon has become the top-selling pre-release movie of all time.

The latest film in the Twilight series has netted 86% of weekly ticket sales on online retailer Fandango, smashing the record set by 2005's Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge Of The Sith.

"For many fans, it's clearly the year's most anticipated film event," said Fandango's Rick Butler. "Ever since tickets went on sale on August 31, it's been among our top five weekly ticket-sellers.

"We're seeing a higher-than-usual number of tickets per transaction for this film, suggesting that moviegoers will show up en masse at theaters this weekend with their friends and family."

The Twilight Saga: New Moon, starring Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson, opens in cinemas this Friday.