New Harry Potter movie shows bumper box office sales

The new Harry Potter film has flown up box office charts today at wizzard speed, promising another year of bumper profits for the spell-binding franchise.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, the latest installment in the billion-dollar series released today after a two-year gap, is expected to draw in $800 million to $1 billion at US box offices. The films so far have grossed $4.5 billion (£2.75 billion) in ticket sales, according to tracking firm Box Office Mojo.

According to ticket sales tracker, Box Office Mojo, US figures showed a $292,004,738 taking for the 2007 film Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, $101,360,911 for the UK. In 2005 Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire made $290,013,036 in the US and $85,870,215 in the UK. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban made $249,541,069 in the US and $84,787,188 in the UK.

The 2002 film Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets made $261,988,482 in US box offices and $88,104,108 for the UK and the first film back in 2001 Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone made a whopping $317,575,550 and $91,289,356 for the UK, the biggest profit of the entire series.

The lifetime gross total for the entire Harry Potter serie box office takings worldwide is $1,411,122,875.

The final book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is being split into two parts to make the most of its money-magnet powers.

With pre-booked tickets boosting sales today, online seller Fandango reported selling more than 1,000 showtimes in the US on Monday. COO of Fandango Rick Butler said the new movie currently represents 96 per cent of its ticket sale. He also said 63 percent of the buyers are female and 62 percent said that they plan to see the movie with a group.

"Harry is tracking to match last year's juggernaut, The Dark Knight," he said. "Showtimes are selling out at a very fast pace, and it's clear that the film's wider blockbuster appeal, solid word-of-mouth and positive Internet buzz on Half-Blood Prince are helping fuel the demand."

Reviews of the movie have also been released prior to opening at midnight tonight in the US and on Friday 17 July in the UK. It was well-received by the Vatican. The newspaper L'Osservatore Roman said the film bad the time-old battle between good vs evil clear.

Other reviewers have called the latest film the best in the franchise so far, with key characters Harry (Daniel Radcliffe), Hermoine (Emma Watson) and Ron (Rupert Grint) taking centre stage and being allowed to shine. David Germain from Associated Press said: "The hocus-pocus of it all nearly takes a back seat to the story and characters this time, and the film is the better for that, brimming with authentic people and honest interaction.

The sixth installment of the movie also boasts a star-cast promoting the greatest British talent including Alan Rickman, Helena Bonham Carter, Maggie Smith, Robbie Coltrane and 60-year-old Jim Broadbent is making a return to the big screen.

View Harry Potter Box Office Graphic

Like this article? Get the RSS feed: