Escapism from dark economic times is contributing to a boom in vampire-themed entertainment, with Friday’s release of the film of a best-selling fantasy romance novel expected to provide new impetus to the biggest publishing phenomenon since Harry Potter.

Hollywood’s high expectations for Twilight, an adaptation of the first book in Stephenie Meyer’s series of the same name, have been bolstered by news that its soundtrack has become the biggest selling album in the US, even before the first screening of the film.