Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows whopping $24 million from midnight screenings

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows whopping $24 million from midnight screenings

Most awaited Movie Harry Potter has added to his billions with a whopping $24 million domestic haul from midnight screenings of his latest adventure.

A boy wizard is set to cast a box office spell this weekend as ‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1’ prepares to unleash the magic.

According to box-office tracker Hollywood.com, that puts "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1" third in the record books for midnight debuts, behind the last two "Twilight" movies: last summer's "Eclipse" with $30 million and 2009's "New Moon" with $26.3 million.

The beginning of the end is at hand as Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 kicks off the two part denouement of the most successful movie franchise of all-time. As if there is any doubt as to what will be the No. 1 film this weekend, Warner Bros.’ latest release looks to conjure opening weekend numbers approaching $120 million and possibly higher and in the process set a new ‘Potter’ record. 2005’s Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire is the only film in the series thus far to open in excess of $100 million having earned $102.7 million in its first three days back in 2005. A true “event” film in every sense of the word, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1 will draw massive crowds to the multi-plex as this decade-long, epic adventure draws to close. A great marketing campaign, off-the-chart audience awareness, midnight showings and a record number of IMAX screens, ensure that this weekend will see 'Potter Mania' hit a fever pitch.

"Deathly Hallows" outdid the last installment in the franchise about the young wizard, "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince," which took in $22.2 million in its midnight debut last year.

The big start portends an opening weekend well over $100 million, said Hollywood.com analyst Paul Dergarabedian.

That would make it only the second of the seven "Harry Potter" films so far to top $100 million domestically in its first weekend. The first was "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire," with $102.7 million in 2005.

Worldwide, the franchise has taken in nearly $5.5 billion in theatrical revenue since the first film debuted in 2001.

The latest film is based on the first part of J.K. Rowling's seventh and final "Harry Potter" novel. The finale, "Deathly Hallows: Part 2," is due out next July.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Review, Harry Potter Review

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Review, Harry Potter Review

Harry Potter v/s Twilight... which one's more superior in terms of content? Whose characters are more popular? The ongoing debate has only gained momentum in the wake of the release of Harry Potter's most awaited seventh and final instalment. If you loved either of the franchises, or both or neither and failed to wonder why they are even being compared, watch out the latest Potter film to get the answer.

Harry Potter is no longer just the bespectacled kiddo wizard he used to be. He looks suave, acts mature and turns on that 'brooding sex appeal' good enough to compete with heartthrob Edward Cullen! Eat your heart out Robert Pattinson, for your Goblet of Fire co-star establishes himself as the new sex symbol in the Deathly Hallows. Radcliffe thinks fast, moves faster and does it all in style!

Way better than the ever mumbling Bella (Kristen Stewart) is teen sensation Emma Watson who brilliantly reprises her character. As Hermione, Watson continues to juggle between protecting Potter and hiding her hesitance to reveal her love for Ron. Like Bella, Hermione too will have to choose between Ron and Harry, tough choice to make.

Playing a possessive boyfriend is Ron (Rupert) who gets jealousy pangs throughout as he finally concludes and accepts his romantic affection for Hermione. But will the two bantering 'best friends' finally kiss and makeup in the final chapter?

With Dumbledore dead, the dark forces seize the control of the ministry of magic and Hogwarts, making the Wizarding world a dangerous place to survive.

Harry Potter will now have to do the impossible. Potter will have to kill the mighty Lord Voldemort which can only happen once he destroys his Horcruxes—the keys to Voldemort's immortality.

Harry, Hermione and Ron will have to leave their families and homes to set out on the perilous mission. The film then captures the trio's quest for the horcruxes, while they play hide n seek with death and Voldemort's dark forces. While looking for the horcruxes, Harry uncovers an old tale—the legend of the Deathly Hallows and if the legend turns out to be true, it could give Voldemort the ultimate power he seeks.

How Harry Potter, 'the chosen one' goes about doing what he is destined to do is what the film is all about... the beginning of the final chapter of Rowling's best selling books, Harry's ultimate fight with Voldemort.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part I sees the most mature performances by its lead cast. With the most deadly task at hand, the 20 year olds' performances resonate the plight of youngsters standing on the threshold of adulthood.

There is no room for mistakes or misunderstandings. Harry will now have to set aside everything including his love for Ginny Weasley and use all his possible magic, mad bravery and mind to destroy the mightiest Lord Voldemort which seems a nearly impossible task.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is a thrilling roller coaster ride which forces you to read between the lines to get to the climax. Layer by layer the filmmaker very beautifully drops hints as he unveils the mystery slowly and steadily leaving you satiated yet desperately anticipating the second and final chapter of Deathly Hallows.

As the film progresses you too start solving the jigsaw puzzle. The plot is racy, characters arresting, action scenes thrilling and cinematography chilling. The twists and turns, suspense quotient, drama and fun elements all co-exist making it one of the most gripping Harry Potter films.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part I meets all the expectations you had from the most awaited final chapter of the Potter films.

Harry, the hottie is worth all the hype! The wizard casts his magic spell and how! Watch it!

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Trailer

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Trailer
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 Trailer

Rating:4.5/5
Cast: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson
Direction: David Yates
Genre: Adventure
Duration: 2 hours 25 minutes

As the end of Harry Potter is near the last and final movie is getting better and has much more exciting and moving scenes as Harry races against time and evil to destroy the Horcruxes.

He discovers the existence of three powerful objects in the Wizarding world in Harry Potter The Deathly Hallows Part I epic finale. The Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 is set for release date, on July 15, 2011.

Part 2 Plot summary “The end begins as Harry, Ron, and Hermione go back to Hogwarts to find and destroy Voldemorts final horcruxes, but when Voldemort finds out about their mission, the biggest battle begins and life as they know it will never be the same again.”

The epic fantasy film directed by David Yates, written by Steve Kloves and based on the novel of the same name by J. K. Rowling. The Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part I was premiered in London and stars Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint and other cast members walked on the red carpet for the world premiere of the first part of the last instalment in the Harry Potter series.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 Trailer

Deathly Hallows Trailer | Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows Trailer

Deathly Hallows Trailer | Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows Trailer

Harry Potter and Deathly Hallows

Harry Potter and Deathly Hallows

Daniel Radcliffe had been afraid of this. Probably for years. That final walk into a sinister forest as Harry Potter faces off against Lord Voldemort at the end of "Deathly Hallows." It's the scene Harry has been building to since He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named killed his parents and the boy wizard landed at Hogwarts.

"I'm kind of dreading [it], because I don't know still how I'm going to do that," Radcliffe told MTV News about shooting the scene.

That was back in July of 2009. By early the following year, Radcliffe had completed the anxiety-inducing scene. But it was no easy task, taking six full days of shooting to get the epic Harry vs. Voldemort battle right.

"It was just one of those scenes where I think because I put a lot of pressure on myself to get it right beforehand, I wasn't able to relax and enjoy it as I might have done otherwise," Radcliffe told us in March. "I was slightly annoyed about that."

And now, we finally get to see (in part, anyway) what all the fuss is about, because Harry's forest walk is featured prominently in the new "Deathly Hallows" trailer, which premiered online Monday. If Radcliffe was indeed as fearful about the scene as he suggested, the actor made good use of those nerves.

The Harry Potter we see enter the woods to greet Voldemort is a trembling one who clutches his wand and moves forward toward certain death. He has come to sacrifice himself so that others might live. It is a courageous decision, yet a fraught one: Harry loves Ginny, and he does not want to die. All these emotions are writ across Radcliffe's face as he approaches Voldemort in the Forbidden Forest.

"Harry Potter, the boy who lived ... come to die," the dark wizard says.

Harry gulps, closes his eyes. This is the end. Voldemort unleashes a ferocious scream. And so their fight begins. As "Harry Potter" fans know, that brawl gets brutal. Even more brutal, of course, than the shoot needed to capture it.

"It was really hard," Radcliffe said. "It was one of those scenes where by the third day of it, we were going, 'I don't know if I like this one as much as I did in the beginning.' It was really, really tough."

What do you think of the new "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" trailer?

Harry Potter theme park.

Harry Potter theme park.
Today is the grand opening of Universal's Harry Potter theme park.

Harry Potter films star Daniel Radcliffe cheers with the crowd, with co-star Rupert Grint (left) during the official grand opening moment at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando, Friday, June 18, 2010.

Thousands of guests streamed into Universal Orlando's newest attraction, Wizarding World of Harry Potter, this morning on its much-anticipated opening day.

Beginning at 10 a.m., wait times of 90 minutes were posted at its signature Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey ride, leading some to speculate that this could be one of the the rare times Universal's Islands of Adventure theme park reaches capacity and closes its gates.

As the morning lingered, long, long lines also formed for Three Broomsticks restaurant, Ollivanders' wand shop and the butterbeer cart.

By noon, the line for Three Broomsticks extended back to the entrance arch of Wizarding World, and more than 150 customers stood in the heat to buy butterbeer. The public line continued to snake through the park.


Weather conditions prompted many fans to shed their trademark robes and change into new, cooler merchandise purchased in Hogsmeade.

The full queue for Forbidden Journey, including the entire greenhouse, was being used, although a 90-minute wait was still posted. Waits for the rethemed roller coasters were substantially shorter: Five minutes for Dragon Challenge, 10 minutes for Flight of the Hippogriff.

"Thousands" were lined up outside the park before the gates opened at 6, a Universal spokesman said.

"We were pleasantly surprised," said Bill Davis, president of Universal Orlando. "It was a little more than we expected."

To help control the flow, anxious Potter fans were admitted to Wizarding World in spaced-out phases starting about 9:30 a.m., when the Hogwarts conductor announced: "Head on in and have fun!"

And with that, Wizarding World of Harry Potter was open. The first crowds crossed the threshhold into Wizarding World amidst confetti falling like fake snow.

Moments before it opened to the public this morning, Daniel Radcliffe, who plays Harry Potter in the movies, said: "We're all grateful that the next part of the Harry Potter legacy has been so well protected."

Potter fans arrived before dawn for the grand opening of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal's Islands of Adventure.

Gates to the theme park were opened at 6 a.m., as a line of faithful fans snaked as far back as the Hard Rock Cafe at Universal CityWalk.

Many had spent the night on the area, saying officials had asked them to leave at 2 a.m. The Universal parking garage re-opened at 5:30 a.m.

"We sprinted from the parking lot," said 18-year-old Zach Foster of Clermont. He said he and his three friends from high school were the first at the turnstiles Friday morning. They spent the night at IHOP and survived on iced coffee and iPods, they said.

In the darkness, with news helicopters circling, six teenagers from Fort Lauderdale in Hogwarts robes walked from the Portofino Bay resort to the front of IOA.

"Mine is from when I was 9 years old," said Lia Terta, now 17. "I'll endure the heat."

Also queued up were Adrienne Isgrigg of Athens, Ohio, with her friend Kjersti Stenehjem of Klamath Falls, Ore. They both have master's degrees and Isgriss is a PhD student in clinical psychology.

"We're top of the line nerds," Stenehjem said. "This is where we belong."