Business

Help ‘Harry Potter’ Conjures First-Day Record of $92.1M

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Harry Potter has cast his biggest spell yet with a record-breaking first day at the box office for his final film.

Distributor Warner Bros. reports that “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2″ summoned up $92.1 million domestically on opening day Friday.

That’s nearly $20 million more than the previous record-holder, “The Twilight Saga: New Moon,” which took in $72.7 million in its first day two years ago.

The first 3-D film in the series, “Deathly Hallows: Part 2″ benefited from the higher price theaters charge for 3-D tickets, which cost a few dollars more than 2-D.

In a single day, “Deathly Hallows: Part 2“ took in more money than four of the previous seven ”Harry Potter” films did over their entire opening weekends.

The finale of the “Harry Potter” saga also set a record for midnight screenings with $43.5 million. That topped “The Twilight Saga: Eclipse,” which pulled in about $30 million in its first midnight shows last year.

Box-office tracker Hollywood.com projected Saturday that “Deathly Hallows: Part 2″ also could break the opening-weekend record of $158.4 million domestically held by “The Dark Knight.”

Comments (31)

  • cavalier973
    Posted on July 28, 2011 at 1:09am

    I avoided reading the books because Harold Bloom described them as full of cliche’d writing. Then, earlier this year, I had a physical, and “The Half-Blood Prince” was in the waiting room. I read several chapters, then checked the whole series out from the library. I read them through in a week and a half, then read them through again, aloud, to my wife.
    I don‘t think there is another children’s series that I’ve read that is more anti-government than HP. Seriously, anyone who is in the “Ministry of Magic” is either an odious fiend or an incompetent buffoon. Dumbledore, the headmaster, has popular support to be the Minister of Magic (the head of government), but he declines the position, for reasons that reflect the philosophy of Lord Acton.
    A very entertaining read. Plus, I can now hurl fireballs at people who annoy me.

    Report Post »  
  • palerider54
    Posted on July 18, 2011 at 6:44pm

    ROMODAVE, If you knew and read your Bible, you would know that it denounces sorrcery and witchcraft many different times.

    You will change your mind on your judgment day, but if you wait till then, it will be to late.

    Report Post »  
  • palerider54
    Posted on July 18, 2011 at 6:40pm

    Those of you who disagreed with my first post, answer me one question, don’t vary from the question, just answer it.

    WHERE DOES HARRY POTTER GET HIS POWERS FROM.

    This is a multiple choice question with only two choices.

    1. GOD

    2. SATAN

    Thank you very much.

    Now stop and actually think about how popular the “good” witches and the “good” werewolves

    and the “good” vampires and all the other “good” sources of the dark side are with todays youth.

    Then remember that Satan is the father of all lies and deceit is his major weapon.

    Report Post »  
    • cavalier973
      Posted on July 28, 2011 at 12:39am

      In terms of the story, the only possible source for Harry Potter’s powers is God, since he is born a magical creature. That is, he can do magic without the training he receives at Hogwarts; it’s part of his nature, like Tolkien‘s elves or the Narnian stars in Lewis’ septology. Potter does not at any time enter into a Faustian bargain with a demonic creature to do “magic”.

      Report Post »  
  • palerider54
    Posted on July 18, 2011 at 1:12pm

    Anything that portrays witchcraft and Satan worship is EVIL.

    It desensitizes us and fools us into accepting Satans influence on our culture.

    Yes even bewithched, which seemed innocent enough, got her powers from the dark side.

    Look it up in the Bible, her mother “Endora ” was the named after the witch of En-Dor who Saul consulted. Coincidence? I think not. Look it up 1st. Samuel, Ch. 28, verse, 7-11

    Report Post »  
    • romadave
      Posted on July 18, 2011 at 1:29pm

      Then the Bible must be evil by that logic– how dumb.

      I’m a Christian and I love the Potter series. In case you haven’t read it and are judging it just based on the concept of a wizard boy in a wizard world, the overall theme is profoundly Christian.

      The ‘chosen one’ Harry was born from a mother capable of pure love. The evil one Voldemort turned bad because of his lust for power. In the end, the chosen one sacrifices himself for the rest of the world. Because of his willingness to humble himself to such a sacrifice, he is allowed to come back from the dead to defeat evil once and for all.

      Harry Potter is a model of Jesus for a younger population (UK) who are largely ignorant of the Christian tradtion. In fact, by re-introducing youth to the idea of a suffering savior, maybe they can see Jesus in a new light.

      Read the book. It’s good.

      Report Post »  
    • jcannon98188
      Posted on July 18, 2011 at 3:08pm

      Palerider is right!
      I just read harry potter and now have to power to cast magical powers!!@@!112121

      My mother was mouthing off to me, so I shouteed “Avada Kadava!” at her, and now she is gone! LAOLOLOLOLOLOLLAWKLS!

      Idiot. Harry Potter does not desensitize people to satan, it has nothing to do with satan at all. Grow up.

      Report Post »  
  • romadave
    Posted on July 18, 2011 at 12:29pm

    am I the only one to not understand the headline?

    Help Harry Potter Conjures First-Day record of $92.1M

    who is doing the helping? Who is conjuring?

    Was this a copy and paste headline gone wrong?

    Report Post »  
  • SLIDELLMAN
    Posted on July 18, 2011 at 12:25pm

    You know what? I am getting sick and tired of people picking on a book and movie series they most likely have never read or watched. The problem isn’t magic, because if it was they would be slamming CHRONICLES OF NARNIA and LORD OF THE RINGS–both written by CHRISTIAN authors! AND they have magic in them! No, they are condemning Harry Potter because KIDS ARE READING. But it is not Christian, so attacking is the order of the day.

    Report Post »  
    • cavalier973
      Posted on July 28, 2011 at 12:41am

      Actually, there is more Scripture in Harry Potter (I mean, actual Bible quotes) than in Lord of the Rings or Chronicles of Narnia put together.

      Report Post »  
  • Guardog44
    Posted on July 18, 2011 at 12:18pm

    Another not so innocent delusion from Hollywood to seduce us away from the truth of reality.

    Report Post »  
  • ecurbyy
    Posted on July 17, 2011 at 9:23pm

    Where’s my post. I’m getting sick of this! Must be witchcraft or something.

    Report Post » ecurbyy  
  • VintageAmerican
    Posted on July 17, 2011 at 7:49pm

    Tax this kind of worthless crap and we will not have another debit crisis.

    Report Post » VintageAmerican  
    • ecurbyy
      Posted on July 17, 2011 at 9:21pm

      I’ve never seen a Harry Potter film but, I did sorta like bewitched. does that make me a bad person? If so I repent.

      Report Post » ecurbyy  
    • beckbotsrlame
      Posted on July 17, 2011 at 10:58pm

      That worthless crap has generated over 9 billion in sales and provided jobs for many. The books and the movies will be around long after your dumb-ass is long gone and forgotten. Get a clue , moron. shalom

      Report Post » beckbotsrlame  
  • Liberal Media Dropped Ball On Nine-Eleven
    Posted on July 17, 2011 at 5:39pm

    harry potter is gay

    Report Post » Liberal Media Dropped Ball On Nine-Eleven  
  • kschmud
    Posted on July 17, 2011 at 2:11pm

    Ha! Just came from the theater…an EXCELLENT film. If you are a fan, you should not be disappointed.

    Report Post »  
  • let us prey
    Posted on July 17, 2011 at 1:32pm

    When will people stop supporting Hollywierd?
    The instant classic comments are laughable. The people need to stop supporting these commies.

    Report Post » let us prey  
  • KansasPatriot
    Posted on July 17, 2011 at 9:48am

    The only thing Harry Potter was good for was Rowling‘s bank account and the commandeering of young people’s souls.

    Report Post » KansasPatriot  
    • wyldelily
      Posted on July 18, 2011 at 12:34pm

      Yes – Rowling should have stayed a single mother on welfare and let the taxpayers of Britain support her family. That way, all the jobs created by her book and movie series could have been eliminated too! Too bad it’s too late to ban The Wizard of Oz…..

      Report Post »  
  • Pigpen
    Posted on July 16, 2011 at 10:54pm

    If the previews and posters in the lobby are any indicator, “Harry Potter 7 Part 2” is the only movie worth seeing. Everything else is complete trash.

    Report Post » Pigpen  
  • John Campbell
    Posted on July 16, 2011 at 8:47pm

    The entirety of the Harry Potter series has been excellent thus far and hopefully this last episode will not disappoint. The movies are already classics and, regardless of the handful of people who like to complain for the sake of complaining, they’ll be with us for a long time to come as once again people head back to standing up for the good guy in the epic battle of good versus evil. Now if only we could get Hollywood to revert from their commie worship ways the world might take on a new sense of self reliance, rugged individualism, and appreciation of freedom. Who knows? Rights might even once again be valuable and people might be able to tell the difference between a right and a privilege. One can hope.

    Report Post »  
    • Pigpen
      Posted on July 16, 2011 at 10:55pm

      You should really check out Bill Whittle’s website “Declaration Entertainment”. He has got a real nifty idea there. You would really like it by the sound of your post.

      Report Post » Pigpen  
  • Obama Fail Cant Get Up
    Posted on July 16, 2011 at 7:10pm

    Hey Foobear – You know Harry Potter encourages witchcraft. Let’s see, a story about a boy (man now I guess) and his buddies that practice witchcraft. It’s all innocent fun that our youth can enoy, right? But I guess it’s cool because they practice white witchcraft – not that nasty ole black witchcraft. Pretty sure I’m in the minority since this is a multi-billion dollar industry.

    Report Post »  
    • foobear
      Posted on July 17, 2011 at 7:27am

      Go hop on a broomstick and leap off a building, Mr. Fail.

      See how well those “witchcraft lessons” work for you.

      Report Post » foobear  
    • American Pride
      Posted on July 17, 2011 at 8:07am

      Witchcraft? Give me a break. Go back to the 50′s. Witchcraft is as real as Zeus. People who practice it are idiots and fools. Just like Scientologists are fools. I don’t believe in dragons either. It’s all about being entertained. I don’t believe Darth Vader is real either. Do you?

      Report Post » American Pride  
    • SuttonShimai
      Posted on July 17, 2011 at 3:23pm

      I am really shocked that grown adults think all that “witchcraft” in Harry Potter is real and will harm our children. You can’t recognize fantasy when you see it?

      Report Post »  
  • foobear
    Posted on July 16, 2011 at 1:19pm

    Queue comments on Harry Potter encouraging witchcraft.

    Report Post » foobear  
    • Affirmative Blaction
      Posted on July 16, 2011 at 1:51pm

      I do not care what anyone says, this whole line of movies suck.

      Report Post » Affirmative Blaction  
    • Pigpen
      Posted on July 16, 2011 at 10:58pm

      Yeah, Harry Potter encourages witchcraft the same way Superman encourages flying with only a cape and Batman encourages vigilantism… blah, blah, blah

      Report Post » Pigpen  

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