Harry Potter Beats Star Wars!

[James Harvey]

Studio estimates are in and it looks like "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" has beat "Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace's" single-day box office record. The wizard brought in an estimated $29.45M on Friday, beating 'Menace's' $28.5M from Wednesday, May 19, 1998.

"Monster, Inc." dropped to second place with $5.66M for the day, while "Shallow Hal" took $3.93M for third.

Tomorrow I'll have the complete weekend estimates. I wonde rhow high those numbers'll be!

[Jowy Blight]

The number should be pretty high.

[Calhoun07]

Not at all surprsing. Harry Potter has a broader range of appeal than Star Wars.

[Trent Lane]

What a sad day:p Episode II's got something to shoot for now... and I think it can, well, will be done...

[TuffyCatt]

Wow, beating Star Wars is pretty impressive, especially with all the hype around Episode 1. Of course, there was just as much hype for the Harry Potter movie...

I'm glad Monsters Inc. is still at least in second...it deserves it. Did anyone else see the great trailer for Monster's Inc. before the Harry Potter movie! :D That was great...

[The Dork Knight]

Wonder how Episode 2 will do...
- Foley Is Good

BTW - Episode One was released May 19, 1999 not 1998.

[Maxie Zeus]

With more data out, ananova.com raises the first day estimate, and predicts an easy new record:


Harry Potter and his flying broomstick are sweeping away US box-office records.
The film, called Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone in the US, grossed $31.3 million (£22 million) on its first day. Distributor Warner Bros says that is the highest single-day take ever.
The previous record-holder was Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace, which took in $28.5 million (£20 million) on its opening day in 1999.

At that level of business, the film is virtually assured of shattering the record for the best three-day debut, set by The Lost World: Jurassic Park with $72.1 million (£50.5 million) in 1997.

Paul Dergarabedian, of box-office tracker Exhibitor Relations, said "Harry Potter" should top $90 million (£63 million) in its first three days.

That would rival the $92.7 million (£65 million) The Lost World grossed in its first four days.

Harry Potter is also likely to hit the $100 million (£70 million) mark faster than any other movie.
The Phantom Menace reached that point in five days. Mr Dergarabedian said Harry Potter should top $100 million in just four days.

[Joe Tully]

Well, Harry Potter is going to have any advantage of increased ticket prices.

I'm hoping to see Lord of the Rings smash this record in Dec. Then we'll see if Star Wars beats that. :D

The real advantage Harry Potter has is that it is seen as more of a "for all ages" film. Though Star Wars is mostly friendly for kids, it's definitely not as kid-friendly as Harry Potter. And LOTR won't be as kid-friendly either of course.

I hope that the public will still be interested in seeing more fantasy after Potter. I really want LOTR to do as well as possible, though I'm sure it will do well no matter what. It's such a well-known story, it will be impossible for it to do poorly.

[James Harvey]

The first big-screen adventure of the boy wizard, "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone," grossed $31.3 million in its debut Friday, the highest single-day take ever, according to distributor Warner Bros.

CNN has the news:

http://www.cnn.com/2001/SHOWBIZ/Movies/11/17/harry.box.office.ap/index.html

[LightAngel]

It's actually kinda ironic, since one of the many reasons Harry Potter broke Star Wars's record, is because of the Episode II trailor. How many people happened to buy a ticket just to see an all new Star Wars trailor! Quite a bit I bet.

[Bird Boy]

from the 10:30am showing I went to (very first one BTW) and it was packed...I'm not surprised..NOT surprised at all..

-BB

[James Harvey]

Now Potter has one more Star Wars obstacle in the way - beating SW Ep 1 to become the fastest movie to hit 100 mill.

[Calhoun07]

I think the better question is will Harry Potter beat Titanic? I think it can.

[pencilsharp]

I think the better question is will Harry Potter beat Titanic? I think it can.
For the only father in America who has not paid for Harry Potter the movie, the book, or the merch, I will say this: Please, if there is a God, pleeeease take Titanic off the record books!!! Thank you and amen...
~pS~

[James Harvey]

I would love to see it beat TITANIC. That would be sweet beyond belief...