Proving that vampires still have bite at the box office (especially when mixed with teen romance), Twilight came in number one this weekend, with an estimated take of $70.6 million. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the film's Friday gross alone ($35 million-plus) was so impressive that Summit Entertainment, the studio behind the film, announced plans for a sequel on Saturday, in a press release stating that the second book in Stephenie Meyer's series, New Moon, would next be adapted (and also star vamp heartthrob Robert Pattinson).

Twilight also boasted the biggest opening ever for a movie helmed by a female director (Catherine Hardwicke), beating Mimi Leder's 1998 epic Deep Impact (which scored $41.2 million upon its release). Twilight's achievement was even more impressive considering the stiff competition it faced this weekend in the form of James Bond. (The latest Bond film, Quantum of Solace, fell from last weekend's number one spot by 59 percent, and earned just $27 million.)

THR speculates that the Twilight sequel New Moon could hit theaters as early as late 2009. But if you're craving more vampire fun now, check out our analysis of Twilight's take on vampire mythology, and see how it compares to that of other recent tales of vamp love, like True Blood and our own Dark Path Chronicles!

VAMPIRE CONVENTIONS: DEBUNKED IN 2008
Since Bram Stoker’s Dracula the notion of a “vampire” has constantly been reinvented. Gone are the days of killing a vampire with a simple wooden bullet through the heart. These days, as seen in Blade, it takes bullets full of garlic or, as in Underworld, bullets full of daylight and sometimes, as in the case of Twilight, bullets might just provide some discomfort. Here’s how True Blood, Twilight and The Dark Path Chronicles measure up with their depiction of such vampire tropes as garlic, holy water, crucifixes and sunlight:

NOTE: The stake symbol stands for an “Oh yeah, it’s still deadly not just uncomfortable!”

ORIGIN
Twilight: Based on the books by Stephenie Meyer, “Twilight” has a huge cult following evidenced by the wild popularity of the film. Expect sequels, since Twilight is a series of books and not a singular novel!

True Blood: Based on "The Southern Vampire Mysteries" by Charlaine Harris and has since been adapted to an HBO TV series by Alan Ball (Six Feet Under, American Beauty).

The Dark Path Chronicles: Written and directed by music-video brain child Mary Lambert, The Dark Path Chronicles is FEARnet’s latest original series and is currently airing episodes 1-4.

A DAY IN THE AFTERLIFE…
Twilight Vampires: School, work, regular mundane mortal activities…

True Blood Vampires: Sleep by day. By night, vamp it up, visit bars after dark, deal drugs (a.k.a. V) pursue human sexual partners, etc.  

The Dark Path Chronicles Vampires: Decades ago they put in time as Nazi’s of the Third Reich. Today some own the Alucard Bar and keep tabs on fellow vampires that may disobey the rules in The Dark Path.

THE WOMEN THAT LOVE THEM
Twilight: Oh Bella, the curious human who can’t stay away from vampire lover Edward Cullen. He says she’s his “personal heroine,” and she’s drawn to him despite what he could do to her…we’re just sayin’ but, do it already!

True Blood: Sookie, a telepath who can hear the thoughts of those around her is drawn to Bill immediately after realizing she CAN’T hear his thoughts. Note to Sookie: he’s thinkin’ he want’s a taste.

The Dark Path Chronicles: Samantha starts singing, hears a strange voice call her name and feels her ear start to bleed. And still, she’s drawn to Jurgen, the Nazi vampire. In this case, love is blind, deaf and a bit dumb, and we’re not sure if he wants a Samantha feast or flirt.

THE LOOK
Twilight: Edward is damn beautiful with that unbeatable bouffant and chiseled, flawless face. But let’s be honest, it’s the caked-on mime makeup that makes him so distinct.  

True Blood: Bill and the vamps of True Blood are certainly pale, avoiding sunlight and all, but still undeniably hot.

The Dark Path Chronicles: Male vampires seem to be ugly as Hell, really showing their expired age, but those female vamps can still heat up a beaker full o’ blood and a chain-filled dungeon in a real sexy-vampire kind of way.

BLOODTHIRST
Twilight: The Cullens avoid drinking human blood, calling themselves vegetarians, but actually drink the blood of animals (NOTE: The bigger and more predatorial the animal, the better the blood.) Evil vampire jerks, however, like James, Laurent and Victoria have no problem feasting on humans.

True Blood: Vampires have been integrated into society due to Japanese scientists discovery of a synthetic blood substitute.

The Dark Path Chronicles: Back to tradition. Straight humans for these guys.

VAMPIRES = SEX
Twilight: No sex in this PG-13 flick! Abstinence with some light kissing is the extent of these vampire lovers’ sex lives. And if these sexually frustrated teens “do the deed” it will kill Bella.

True Blood: In True Blood, they don’t really care who dies; the tables turn and this time it’s not just the sexy vampires seducing the humans! Since vampires have been integrated into society, they’ve also been used for whory drug-induced sex by humans who seek sex with vampires and a taste of VAMPIRE blood for a euphoric high. It’s a little backwards, but we’re not sayin’ the vampires don’t enjoy it too!

The Dark Path Chronicles: Vampire is synonymous with sex these days, and The Dark Path doesn’t differ! These vampires bite into each other fangs-a-blazin’ and drink beakers of blood while getting’ it!

FANGS
Twilight: Pale faces? Check. Mysteriously sexy male vampire with human love interest? Check. Sexual tension? Check. Sure it’s a vampire flick with teen romance, but Twilight loses a bit of street cred with the “no fang” policy. They fly, have super strength and super sex appeal. The evil ones even leave their overcoats unbuttoned so we can see their defined chest muscles. But alas, no fangs!

True Blood: On the other hand, True Blood’s vampires have retractable fangs, giving the neck-nibblers subtlety by day and rockin’ chompers by night.

The Dark Path Chronicles: Mary Lambert’s vampires go in the complete opposite direction, getting back traditional vampires and kicking it up a notch with HUGE, larger-than-life fangs that protrude from the mouths of those with the most bite!