Call it "Occupy Twilight."

Hundreds of fans – all with the central goal to be among the first to see "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1" – congregated in front of local theater complexes Thursday.

In a show of film enthusiasm reserved for heavyweights like the "Star Wars," "Harry Potter" and "Batman" movies, fans began showing up before dawn to stake out a spot for the latest film in the "Twilight" franchise. At least 44 midnight showings sold out in the Fresno area.

"We were here at 5 a.m. but they made us leave. We finally got in line at 6:30," said Minerva Rendon of Fowler, who was first in line at Edwards theater in River Park for the midnight screenings of the first of the two movies made from the Stephenie Meyer book "Breaking Dawn." The second part will hit theaters in November 2012.

Afternoon lines weren't as long as for past "Twilight" movies. That's because every seat at Edwards – in 22 theaters – had long been sold before the first fans arrived, which means fans knew they would get into a theater. Early arrivals were to secure the best seats.

"It's all about bragging rights," said Rendon, who was with a group of 25 people who have become friends since seeing the first film, "Twilight," together in 2008. This is the fourth movie in the five-film franchise.

Rendon, who was joined by her two daughters, Marissa, 16, and Romie, 18, is such a huge fan she took a week of vacation to be ready for the midnight showing.

Fans in line ranged in age, with A'rynn Davis at 51/2 months being one of the youngest. Dressed in a "Team Edward" shirt, the infant sat on the knee of her grandmother, Wendi Danyluk.

The scene was repeated across town. Ten theaters were sold out at Regal Manchester 16, with only 350 seats left Thursday afternoon for the last theater. The UA Broadway Faire Stadium 10 had six theaters filled for the midnight show.

One of the best bets for getting tickets was at Sierra Vista Cinemas 16 in Clovis, which had filled six theaters but planned to add screenings as necessary until all 16 screens were sold out.

The midnight screenings locally will help the movie's box office total.

"The Twilight Saga: Eclipse" earned more than $300 million at the box office in the United States and racked up almost $400 million overseas.

It also accounted for almost $150 million in DVD sales.

Fandango, the online ticket service, reports more than 3,500 show times are already sold out for the latest film in the series, making up 95% of the site's daily ticket sales.