Harry Potter NOT opening on 7,000 screens.

[The Clown Prince]

This comes from Cinescape....

"In a follow-up to yesterday's news that HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER'S STONE might be opening on over 7,000 screens comes word of a more reasonable, though still record setting figure.


According to Variety, the film will open on 3,672 screens, which sets a record previously held by MISSION IMPOSSIBLE 2 with 3,653.


Of course, that figure could still flucuate or even expand to fill the demand for moviegoers.


As one might expect, some theaters will be screening the film at midnight tonight. Word has it that advance sales of tickets for the film have laso been way above average."

Still, with that many screens, we WILL see a big opening weekend, possibly a record breaking weekend...

The Clown Prince

[RockItShipper]

Dunno if anyone saw CNBC Wed. morning, but they brought up a good point. Even with all the screens, a 2 1/2 hour running time means there's less to book and profit from...

[langden alger]

and a nation mournes...

[Jimmy Kustes]

I think certain movies do better during a recession because patrons all save their money for one entertainment like Monster's Inc.

Titanic was more than 3 hours long. I don't see your point. You should say it won't show as many times with a longer running time, so it will not make as much money. The way I read it you didn't explain why it would not make as much money, some people might want to go see just because it has more substance and a longer time.

[Maxie Zeus]

Originally posted by duncanzits
Titanic was more than 3 hours long. I don't see your point. You should say it won't show as many times with a longer running time, so it will not make as much money. The way I read it you didn't explain why it would not make as much money, some people might want to go see just because it has more substance and a longer time.

I think the point was that long running time means fewer showings which means that its opening gross may be more limited that we are expecting. After all, we've been speculating about a huge opening, and he's pointing out there may be less room for a huge number than we're thinking.

[The Mad Hatter]

Update:

I found this from an AP article. Harry Potter is opening in 3,672 theaters, breaking the previous record of 3,653 for Mission: Impossible 2.

However, most theaters are devoting more than one screen to this. The estimate for the number of screens is: 8,200. Which is 1,600 more than MI2 and Shrek.

Yikes.

[RockItShipper]

It's not a matter of making money as it is how fast it'll make it. Most movies for that demographic can go from one showing, theatre clean-up and the start of the next showing during Potter's run. Digital screens don't have as much of this issue, meaning they can book more showings, but even if Monsters Inc. is shown more- it's hard to imagine it beating HP at the box office, especially with 2 weekends into its run already.