'Harry Potter' rakes in $24 million from midnight shows, falls short of 'Twilight'

The boy wizard couldn't beat the teen vampires.

"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows -- Part 1" sold $24 million in tickets in its debut late Thursday night with shows that started at or soon after midnight, according to an estimate from Warner Bros.

That's $1.8 million more than the last movie in the series, "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince," brought in from midnight shows when it debuted in June 2009.

It's well short, however, of the record set in July by "The Twilight Saga: Eclipse," which grossed more than $30 million during its late-night launch.

In fact, "Deathly Hallows" is the No. 3 midnight opening of recent years, also coming up behind November 2009's "The Twilight Saga: New Moon," which kicked off its opening weekend with $26.3 million.

"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows -- Part 1" is on track for a huge opening weekend of more than $100 million. Now that it didn't break any records in midnight shows, however, it's less likely the picture will top the $158-million debut in 2008 of "The Dark Knight," which stands as the biggest opening weekend ever, not accounting for ticket price inflation.

-- Ben Fritz

Photo: Fans play while waiting for a midnight screening of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows -- Part 1" in Harrisonburg, Va. Credit: Traci White / Associated Press

Comments

[Britney Warren]

You have to remember that midnight grosses is not a good indicator of how big the weekend will be. Eclipse made $4 mil more then New Moon at midnight grosses, yet grossed $4 million less on opening day. Also, The Dark Knight, which has the all time opening weekend record of $158 mil, only had $18 mil in midnight grosses. I don't think that Harry Potter will break the Dark Knights record or Twilights opening day record, but it will hold better throughout the weekend then the Twilight series, and I think a gross of about $146 mil is possible.

[Jason]

I wonder how Part 2 will fair...it'll do better, for sure, but I wonder how much better....

If it's any consolation for Potter fans who were dying to see the Twilight record fall, think of it this way: Twilight got the record, but Potter got the better film. ;-)

[timbo]

The Twilight movie opened in the Summer when kids are out of school. That means they could stay out later and didnt have to go to school the next day.
This is a very impressive opening for a Thursday!

[Logical]

Of course it didn't beat a July opening when it opened on a school/ work night instead of the middle of everyone's summer vacations! This doesn't necessarily imply anything about either franchise's popularity or quality.

[April Maurer]

Good comments and true, overall Harry Potter fans are a tad younger and a more diverse group. I look for this movie to break records by the end of the weekend. Families will have time to take the littler ones :) Plus it is a way better movie than the Twilight Movies.

[Claire]

Please, the boy wizard beat teen vampires. The $24 million falling short of Twilight obviously didn’t take into account that students paid the student ticket price, $7.50 instead of $10.50 (at AMC theatres at least). And that Eclipse premiered over the SUMMER on a Wednesday and last night was a school night. Perspective people!

[Dylan]

Well, considering Eclipse came out in the middle of everyone's summer vacation, and DH came out on a Thursday night in November, I think this says little about the quality or popularity of each series.

Let's hope Part 2 will dominate.

[Alyssa]

I like to think that it's because most Harry Potter fans are in their 20s now and must wake up at ungodly hours in the morning for their grown-up jobs, and therefore were unable to attend the midnight premier no matter how much they wanted to.

That, and it also did not open over the summer like Twilight did. Kids had to go to school!

But considering it's a 10yr-old movie franchise, this is pretty impressive!

[Wendy L]

Please don't compare the two. They're not even of the same caliber. HP appeals to all ages. Twilight appeals to teenagers and moms.

[Twilight Rules]

As a Twilight fan I'm enjoying the bitterness of Potter fans because Twilight fans are also Potter fans and we do not hate Potter like Potter fans hate Twilight. We really don't care.

But Potter fans do. But for the record, Harry Potter is for kids. The books are located in the children's section of the book store. Twilight books are made for a more mature audience. These books are located in the Young Adult section of the bookstore. Twilight is loved by everyone and is not limited to a specific audience. Husbands, wives, grandmothers, daughters, aunts, boyfriends...Twilight has every type of fan and more wide ranging than Potter.

'Market Watch' correctly states the following: "“Deathly Hallows” fell behind two films in the “Twilight” series. “The Twilight Saga: Eclipse” still is tops with its $30 million-plus debut earlier this year on June 30. And “The Twilight Saga: New Moon” comes in second at $26.3 million for its Nov. 20, 2009 midnight release. "

Potter failed to beat out New Moon's midnight showing as well which opened in November on a Friday. Not a summer opening...uh, next excuse.

Also what is deceiving is that the DH's opened on more IMAX film screens than any Twilight movie which means more money per ticket and two Twilight films still beat it at the midnight showings. At the theater I was at yesterday, it has 24 theaters. Only 17 theaters sold out. When both New Moon and Eclipse opened, it sold out all 24 screens both times. TWICE!! ALL 24 SCREENS FOR THE MIDNIGHT SHOWING!

Now what's the excuse Potter fans? This was the BIG FILM that was supposed to take down Twilight in all facets. If you couldn't beat out two Twilight films in the midnight showing with this movie the most anticipated Potter film in history, what makes you think you will ever take them down with Breaking Dawn coming out November 2011?

I've read through the comments and they are the most bitter comments I've ever read. LOL! Yes, Potter is supposed to make money. It's going to make a lot of money. That's what Warner Bros groomed this film for since Sorcerer's Stone.

When are you people going to get it? When will you understand? First of all, you people are commenting on the Twilight books and you know good and darn well NONE OF YOU HAVE READ ALL FOUR BOOKS!! You're Potter fans, Twilight is beneath you. Why would I believe you even read one book? You're lying because you haven't.

Just be happy that DH is going to make about a billion dollars world wide. May break the weekend box office record until Breaking Dawn comes out next fall. I saw DH's twice. It's ok. Too scary for the little ones. Kind of slow after Ron leaves. Should have done more with Hermione learning about the Hallows. Hit all the marks of the important parts. I just wished they had shown some banter of Krum & Ron at the wedding. The wedding was a waste of time to do because it was skimmed over. The teacher should have twirled like in the book. I thought that made the scene JK wrote more creepier. The teacher twirling while the others watch was masterful of her and they didn't put it on screen unfortunately. (See, I've actually read all the Potter books unlike you Potter fans not reading the Twilight books).

I think I've done enough boasting. Because you all are going to see how premieres are done and how to break a single midnight showing record. You haven't seen anything yet. Breaking Dawn Pt 1 will smash Eclipse's records hands down. Mark my words and read this post this time next year.

Sorry Potter fans but there's a new kid on the block taking over tinsle town and everyone knows who that is. Twilight.

[Twilight Rules even more]

One more thing, why are you people comparing Twilight's numbers to mega "made to be blockbusters" Dark Knight & Harry Potter. Twilight is a "chick flick" kicking tale and taking names of the big boys. Twilight is an indie film, small budget films.

One note to make since we're talking figures: The Twilight franchise is the most provitable franchise in the history of Hollywood. Just wanted to let you all know this. You're saying to yourself, "How can that be? Potter's been out for 10 years?

Because the Twilight movies are small budget films and have made over 100x's in profits. Take Twilight. It cost $36 million to make and grossed over $700 million. The Dark Knight, Avatar, Potter etc... have never profited that much and not even close to the profitability of Twilight. DK, Potter etc... would have to make several billion per movie in order to meet the profit margin of the Twilight films.

Summit's making a killing. The little indie studio that could is taking down the big boys. The most profitable movie franchise in the history of Hollywood and a Oscare winning movie to boot. Not bad for a small indie company.

So no matter what Potter makes this weekend or overall, it will never be as profitable as the Twilight films. Eeek, did I just give Potter fans another reason to hate Twilight?

[michael]

I think that since HP7 is a two-part movie with the second installment coming in less than a year, there is probably a good chunk of movie watchers who like harry potter but are not rabbid about it and will take there time over the next few months to see part 1, then there will be less of a wait unitl part 2 comes out.

[lupe]

You must remember though that the opening day was on a day that many Harry Potter fans had school, many weren't allowed to stay out that late so they weren't able to go to the midnight showing, where as twilight opened during the summer, i think it will do very well this weekend

[Defender of Justice!]

Dear Twilight Rules/Twilight Rules even more
_______________________________________

You said; "Twilight is loved by everyone and is not limited to a specific audience. Husbands, wives, grandmothers, daughters, aunts, boyfriends...Twilight has every type of fan and more wide ranging than Potter. "

-----Harry Potter itself is loved by husbands, wives, grandmothers, daughters, aunts, boyfriends. Twilight has a wider range than Harry Potter? If that's your argument, then they range the same.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You said; "When are you people going to get it? When will you understand? First of all, you people are commenting on the Twilight books and you know good and darn well NONE OF YOU HAVE READ ALL FOUR BOOKS!! You're Potter fans, Twilight is beneath you. Why would I believe you even read one book? You're lying because you haven't. "

-----I have read all four books. I never considered Twilight beneath me, actually. What broke my stand was the idiocracy of the fans.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You said;"Sorry Potter fans but there's a new kid on the block taking over tinsle town and everyone knows who that is. Twilight."

----Stephenie Meyer herself said; "It's terribly flattering to be compared to her, but there's never going to be another J. K. Rowling; that's a phenomenon that's not gonna happen again."

Taking over tinsle town in the sense of money? Sure, fine, for weekend releases perhaps.

Total Revenue of Twilight: $1,792,300,241
Total Revenue of Harry Potter: $5,417,096,705
Look at those figures. Overall,

Harry Potter beat Twilight by $3,624,796,464

Money aside, however, both the Twilight books and movies will NEVER having the staying power that Harry Potter will have. Harry Potter has been expected to endure for generations to come by many a literary critic, whereas Twilight has been criticized.

The Harry Potter movies overall have a 82% approval rating from critics.
The Twilight movies have an overall 43% approval.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You said; "Summit's making a killing. The little indie studio that could is taking down the big boys. The most profitable movie franchise in the history of Hollywood and a Oscare winning movie to boot."

----First off, you spelled Oscar wrong.
Second, Twilight has not won any Oscars, nor has it been nominated.
Harry Potter has been nominated for three.

Research shows:
"As of 2010, the Harry Potter film franchise is the highest grossing film franchise of all time, with the six films released so far grossing $5.4 billion worldwide. Without adjusting for inflation, this is higher than the 22 James Bond films and the six films in the Star Wars franchise. However, the Star Wars franchise does gross higher when adjusted for inflation."

Also, Harry Potter is the most succesful book series of all time, with more than 400 million for the 7 main books alone.

Twilight is number 21, with more than 100 million.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"So no matter what Potter makes this weekend or overall, it will never be as profitable as the Twilight films"

Total Revenue of Twilight: $1,792,300,241
Total Budget of Twilight: $155,000,000
Profit: $1,637,300,241

Total Revenue of Harry Potter: $5,417,096,705
Total Budget of Harry Potter: $1,280,000,000
Profit: $4,137,096,705

Harry Potter beat Twilight by
$2,499,796,464

--------------------------------------------------------------------

This is all coming from a girl who owns a Team Jacob shirt and has been to Forks.

I rest my case.

[asfdasf]

Maybe ppl had to go to school the next day dimwit???

[Paul]

I am sick and tired of reading comments saying that Harry Potter won't beat Twilight. First of all, the figures discussed in the article are only for midnight tickets. Even though the recent Twilight movies do well on the first few days, their box office receipts tend to drop dramatically in the following days. They are very front-loaded.

Let us compare the last film that has had a full run from each franchise. In the end, Harry Potter and the Half-blood Prince still did better than Eclipse even though the latter holds the record for midnight ticket sales.

Worldwide, every Harry Potter movie has earned substantially more than the Twilight films. Even the lowest grossing Harry Potter movie did better than the highest grossing Twilight movie.

Here are the worldwide figures for both franchises taken from BoxOfficeMojo.com:

Twilight: $392,616,625
New Moon: $709,827,462
Eclipse: $691,348,133

HP1: $974,733,550
HP2: $878,643,482
HP3: $795,634,069
HP4: $895,921,036
HP5: $938,212,738
HP6: $933,959,197

I think the numbers speak for themselves.

[Manish Gill]

I was about to respond very, very kindly to the Twilight fans here who keep begging to get attention purely based on the fact that Potter didn't beat twilight, but then I saw that has already been done. Err...I'll do it anyways :D
If someone here thinks that Twilight is loved by a far wider range of audience than Harry Potter then they are seriously deluding themselves. Potter fans don't have over 80% of the fanbase in teenage girls. I used to quite like Twilight, but this thing is getting way more attention than it should. I was put-off from that fandom simply because of the sheer amount of stupidy that most fans there show, which also indicates a little something about there age.
Harry Potter is now being introduced in schools to young children. Those who grew up with potter will read the stories to their kids, which I can't see the Twilight fans doing if they develop some sense by the time they are of an age to have kids.
as pointed out before me, Harry Potter series is the most successful franchise of ALL-TIME. We beat James-Freakin'-Bond! Who are you?
Fact: I live in a different part of the World. Twilight fans, its called Asia. You might not have heard of it, coz none of your kin are here, and that is a fact.
But we have more than enough potter fans here. The movies are block-buster hits every time.I'll leave you with this :

“Both Rowling and Meyer, they’re speaking directly to young people. … The real difference is that Jo Rowling is a terrific writer and Stephenie Meyer can’t write worth a darn. She’s not very good."
-Stephen King

[JakeWard]

Well New Moon opened a November too and still it beat This movie HP DEATH HALLOWS.. Thats TWO Movies that gross more than HP..They got the popularity that no other movie has and the prove of that are the awards they get. EVERYONE votes for them!!!!