Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince Takes in 58.4 Million Opening Day
HBP Film
Posted by: sue
July 16, 2009, 01:28 PM
There are new totals today marking the financial success of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. Variety is reporting that Warner Bros has announced that HBP "grossed a magical $58.4 million from 4,275 theaters as it opened
Wednesday at the domestic B.O., including a potent $22.2 million in
midnight shows."
The piece also notes that HBP "was pacing well ahead of the $44 million earned by "Harry Potter
and the Order of the Phoenix" on its opening Wednesday exactly two
years ago. "Order of the Phoenix" posted a five-day opening gross of
$139.7 million...Forecasts for the five-day opening vary. Some are predicting
"Half-Blood Prince" would post a five-day domestic opening of $125
million to $150 million, while others put it higher."
On the international front, Variety points out that Half-Blood Prince "is opening day-and-date in every major overeas territory.
"Harry Potter" films have been even more successful overseas, and no
one's willing to handicap how high "Half-Blood Price" will go in
foreign realms. "Order of the Phoenix" grossed $646.2 million
internationally and $292 million domestically. Early estimates
showed "Half-Blood Prince" grossing north of $3.2 million in Australia,
the third best opening day gross ever after the last two "The Lord of
the Rings" pics." TLC reader Verity owled to point out this additional article from the Australian opening that they have the number as 4.37 Million and the figure "is also the highest Wednesday result of all time in Australia, and the highest opening day figure on a non-public holida
90 Comments
72 Points
I went at midnigh and then again tonight. the audience tonight totally sucked most of the time i was laughing by myself.
428 Points
A sign that however low the economy is, people will still like to watch quality and familiar movies.
Congrats!
106 Points
I watched the half blood prince yesterday. It was overall a really great movie. Really funny! Everybody on this site is so much of a HP fan they wouldn’t say the movie was bad (yes me included). One problem i had with the movie though was at the end the scene was way to short. All of the sudden dumbledore was shot down and harry ran out of the castle, screamed at snape and it was done. In the book harry has to fight his way through death eaters and spells flying everywhere. In the movie there wasn’t anyone in the castle! The end seemed rushed and they wavered from the books a bit too much. I overall really liked it though. Great job by Tom Felton and Michael Gambon!
879 Points
aww, didn’t beat Transformers :\
1084 Points
just imagine how much they will earn for deathly hallows!
62 Points
That sounds great! Well, I expected nothing less, the film is great… HBP just rocks!
I am really surprised at some of the comments. The film was slow moving, scripting was weak and the actors had no chance to shine. The story switched with little continuity. I suspect that the length of the book defeated the ability of the film makers – pity. It does suggest that Hallows will be well worth seeing as the split should assist in the story line. The special effects were very good.
182 Points
I wish it would have beaten The Dark Knight!
4452 Points
WOW!!!! a lot!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am suprised at some of the negative comments here – I thought the movie was great (tho I still think Goldenberg stayed truer to Jo’s work than Kloves).
I also think we rabid fans should recant some of our speculations. For example, the spectraspecs didn’t see through a Hallow (remember, we all thought that it would and booed the movie-makers for their ignorance and stupidity)! And Snape and Harry’s behaviour in the lightning-struck tower scene does NOT give away which side Snape is on.
Eating humble-pie in a post movie glow :)
i don’t really care about the openning figures, weekend figures etc. The only figure of importance is when the film is no longer showing and we have a complete total.
39 Points
I thought the movie was great. I am really trying to trust the director as to what gets left out and changed. I was really impressed with the improvements in the acting esp. by the trio and Tom Felton. We all knew Rupert could do funny but Dan’s humourous scene was a treat!
4024 Points
WOW!
That’s a lot of money! It’s because we had to wait so long l- everyone wants to get their Potter fix lol! :D
41 Points
I was definitely one of the midnight viewers when it came out in the Middle East ;)
150 Points
YAY! im part of that 58.4!
I went at midnigh and then again tonight. the audience tonight totally sucked most of the time i was laughing by myself.