According to Variety, Paramount and DreamWorks are claiming an estimated $8.8 million for Michael Bay's Transformers in its "preview screenings" in a number of theatres starting at 8pm last night. That's rougly 67% of what Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End made when it took a similar approach on Thursday May 24, before grossing just under $140 million over the four-day Memorial Day weekend.

Transformers officially opens today in 4,011 theatres across the country and is expected to be helped greatly by the 4th of July holiday and the extended vacation weekend that many people will take this week. Check back tomorrow and over the next few days on how this highly-anticipated summer movie is faring.