Shame the Harry Potter series is ending just when it’s beginning to catch on. Deadline is reporting an astonishing haul of $43.5 million from midnight screenings, a healthy head-start on what’s shaping up to be a $180 million weekend in the US alone.
Domestically, $45 million has been collected already in pre-sales for this opening North America weekend, including $27M for tonight’s 3,000+ midnight screenings which could reach $40M alone. Internationally, $43.6 million has been added from the 24 of 59 countries where the franchise finale opened Wednesday… What these numbers mean is that Warner Bros is on track to break its own Dark Knight domestic opening 3-day weekend record of $158M. Helped by Harry Potter – Part 2’s higher 3D ticket prices, the new pic could reach $180M. “Midnights and Friday will be huge,” a rival studio exec tells me. “The only question will be how front-loaded they are and where they end up. A lot of the international openings Wednesday were records so the total foreign will be huge as well.”
Warner Bros is giving Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows – Part 2 a mega-release into 4,375 theaters and over 11,000 screens in North America alone on Friday. This will make it the widest domestic Harry Potter release of all time. The film will be shown in 3,000 3D locations, which constitutes a motion picture industry record, and on 4,250 3D screens. It will play at 274 IMAX venues, another industry record, as well as 120 Premium Large Format cinemas, also an industry record, and 270 drive-ins, another industry record. When the pic opens at Thursday midnight, Part II will be playing in at least 3,800 theaters. But I’m told that number is climbing by the hour. Already Warner Bros anticipates 300 Harry Potter marathons playing all seven of the movies ending at midnight Thursday with the 8th unreeling. There are 1,100 theaters planning to play HP 7A into 7B that midnight. “We are positioned to exceed the largest Harry Potter opening box office of all time,” a Warner Bros top exec tells me confidently. Remember, it’s already the largest-grossing franchise in motion picture history.
Transformers is cinematic. Harry Potter is manure.
Transformers is cinematic. Harry Potter is manure.
All i want is for Deathly Hallows 2 to kick Transformers 3 ass!
All i want is for Deathly Hallows 2 to kick Transformers 3 ass!
I would gladly give this last potter installment the best pic prize. It was not only a brilliant adaptation but an emotionally charged roller coaster ride. Easily the best film ive seen in a while. Midnight in Paris is lesser, in my book.
I would gladly give this last potter installment the best pic prize. It was not only a brilliant adaptation but an emotionally charged roller coaster ride. Easily the best film ive seen in a while. Midnight in Paris is lesser, in my book.
Awesome movie
Awesome movie
Happy to read this news! I was reading a similar article on EW and the Twilight haters just reached a new level of immaturity. Not that I’m surprised or anything.
Happy to read this news! I was reading a similar article on EW and the Twilight haters just reached a new level of immaturity. Not that I’m surprised or anything.
I forgot to add that Yates does an extremely good job, but I consider him a longshot due to the fact he’s still “noone” in the industry and that he directed half of the movies “only”.
I forgot to add that Yates does an extremely good job, but I consider him a longshot due to the fact he’s still “noone” in the industry and that he directed half of the movies “only”.
Just saw this one. A true instant classic, with a load of born-to-be-iconic moments. Best in the series, hands down, and well, I remain keeping this one as frontrunner for Picture, Supp. Actor (Rickman), Adapted Screenplay, Art Direction, Visual Effects and Score (Desplat). And really good options at Cinematography, Costume Design, Sound Editing, Film Editing and Sound Mixing. I wouldn’t be surprised if Maggie Smith or Ralph Fiennes sneak in for a surprise nom, too. I mean, given the unanimous acclaim and the HUGE b.o., plus the quality itself and the background of 8 movies all together, it’s gonna be really difficult to distract on Awards Season from this one, in any industry-related award… Guilds and BAFTA will probably lead its way to the Globes and Oscars. Not going to sweep in a LotR:RotK style, but this is a Potter film that is guaranteed at least 2-4 Oscars, and there’s a really good chance it will grab Best Picture. Let’s see how WB campaigns it.
Just saw this one. A true instant classic, with a load of born-to-be-iconic moments. Best in the series, hands down, and well, I remain keeping this one as frontrunner for Picture, Supp. Actor (Rickman), Adapted Screenplay, Art Direction, Visual Effects and Score (Desplat). And really good options at Cinematography, Costume Design, Sound Editing, Film Editing and Sound Mixing. I wouldn’t be surprised if Maggie Smith or Ralph Fiennes sneak in for a surprise nom, too. I mean, given the unanimous acclaim and the HUGE b.o., plus the quality itself and the background of 8 movies all together, it’s gonna be really difficult to distract on Awards Season from this one, in any industry-related award… Guilds and BAFTA will probably lead its way to the Globes and Oscars. Not going to sweep in a LotR:RotK style, but this is a Potter film that is guaranteed at least 2-4 Oscars, and there’s a really good chance it will grab Best Picture. Let’s see how WB campaigns it.
I would love to hear some commentary as to its Oscar chances by Ryan or Sasha. As a fan, I am overly biased.
It was the most emotional, exciting movie event I’ve ever experienced. As a die hard fan, it was truly a triumphant night.
I would love to hear some commentary as to its Oscar chances by Ryan or Sasha. As a fan, I am overly biased.
It was the most emotional, exciting movie event I’ve ever experienced. As a die hard fan, it was truly a triumphant night.
The Imax theatre here sold out of all the theaters they had. I haven’t seen a midnight this massive since the Dark Knight.
It was a very exciting night
The Imax theatre here sold out of all the theaters they had. I haven’t seen a midnight this massive since the Dark Knight.
It was a very exciting night
all 18 screens were sold out last night where we attended. a very cool scene, happy crowd – best costumes were a dementor, a very realistic Filch, Umbridge…. lots of Beletrix’s.
people love Harry…. there was so much sobbing that the crowd got tickled. wild applause for Maggie Smith and Julie Walters.
$180M is too high an estimate. TDK got $155m – anything over that will be excellent.
This movie is going to have much better legs than we have seen from the last few HP’s.
all 18 screens were sold out last night where we attended. a very cool scene, happy crowd – best costumes were a dementor, a very realistic Filch, Umbridge…. lots of Beletrix’s.
people love Harry…. there was so much sobbing that the crowd got tickled. wild applause for Maggie Smith and Julie Walters.
$180M is too high an estimate. TDK got $155m – anything over that will be excellent.
This movie is going to have much better legs than we have seen from the last few HP’s.
On another post I said that this movie had the biggest Wednesday opening ever in Finland. Actually it was the biggest opening day (incl. Fridays and all) ever, with (excluding Avatar) the largest percentage on 3D shows.
It will make over 1B, but how much? 2B?
On another post I said that this movie had the biggest Wednesday opening ever in Finland. Actually it was the biggest opening day (incl. Fridays and all) ever, with (excluding Avatar) the largest percentage on 3D shows.
It will make over 1B, but how much? 2B?