Harry Potter, Deathly Hallows Part 2 Preparing to Break Box Office Records

(Reuters/Lucas Jackson)
Cast members (L-R) Rupert Grint, Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson arrive for the premiere of the film "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2" in New York July 11, 2011.

By Christine Thomasos , Christian Post Reporter

July 15, 2011|11:29 am

The final installment of the Harry Potter series is expected to break the $158.4 million mark this weekend, which will surpass the record set by ‘The Dark Knight’ in 2008.

The final movie in the eight-film series, “Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows--Part 2” will be the first to utilize 3-D tickets. Since people pay more to view the enhanced illusions, experts have no doubt that it will break records.

“With the 3-D and the huge sense of urgency among fans to be the first to see this film, it has as good a shot as you can have to break the record," said Vincent Bruzzese, president of the worldwide motion picture group for research firm Ipsos OTX, in the Los Angeles Times.

Although the film opens on Friday, many of its showings were sold out well before the release date. The Los Angeles Times reported that over 10,000 midnight shows on Friday were sold out, along with some Saturday showings.

On the Thursday before the opening of the movie, the film already grossed an estimated $45 million, which the Los Angeles Times reports as more money than most movies earn in their entire first weekend.

Critics have named the movie the best in the series, and will end what The Los Angeles Times is calling “the most successful film franchise in modern Hollywood. The most impactful piece of pop culture for a generation.”

The Harry Potter film has already broken records in Australia, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Since its opening on Wednesday night, the movie made $7.4 million in 24 hours.

The Australian record was previously held by “Lord of the Rings: Return of the King,” which grossed $1.8 million in one day.

The Warner Bros. studio that brought the last Harry Potter film to life, also expects the movie to break the record for the largest foreign weekend opening. “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides” currently holds the record for earnings grossing $260 million. However, predictions are varied about the status of “Hallows 2” breaking the worldwide first-week gross earnings record, which is currently held by “Transformers: Dark of the Moon.”