IMAX and 3D carried the concluding installment, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows — Part 2,” to record-breaking opening box-office grosses in nearly every market in the world except China, which will be joining soon.
The record IMAX opening alone of $23.2 million globally ($59,000 per-screen) contributed significantly to the biggest-ever cumulative global gross of more than $481 million, nearly half of which can likely be attributed to 3D showings of the movie.
In the U.S., IMAX’s contribution was even bigger with another record $15.2 mil. of the Warner Bros. Pictures film’s highest-ever $169.2 mil. total box office, or approximately $55,500 per IMAX screen.
“Deathly Hallows Part 2” also set a mark as the broadest 3D launch ever with 3,100-plus locations, including 274 in IMAX. About 43% of all ticket sales were from 3D, according to BoxOfficeMojo.com.
“This does not even include China, where the film will be released on Aug 4 and experienced on an additional 26 IMAX screens,” said Veronika Kwan-Rubinek, President Distribution of Warner Bros. Pictures International. “Our partnership with IMAX has proven itself time and time again, and we look forward to a long run for this amazing and final film of the franchise.”
“With sellouts all weekend and IMAX fans coming out in record numbers to see the highly anticipated conclusion of this global blockbuster, the only way we could have done better would have been to have more seats,” said Richard L. Gelfond, CEO of IMAX. “Thankfully, as our network continues to expand, higher capacity is in our future.”
“IMAX is honored to be a part of the magical conclusion of this storied franchise, which we expect to play in our theatres for many weeks to come,” said Greg Foster, IMAX Chairman and President of Filmed Entertainment.
“It has always been a priority for us to be able to offer audiences – especially loyal Harry Potter fans – the most spectacular movie-going experience possible, and IMAX provides an incredible means of delivering the goods with this final installment of the beloved franchise,” said Dan Fellman, President of Distribution, Warner Bros. Pictures.”
Meanwhile, two of the other top five films of the weekend were also in 3D.
Paramount’s “Transformers: Dark of the Moon” finished second in its third weekend with another $21.25 mil. to reach $761 mil. worldwide and become the first film released in 2011 to cross the $300 mil. mark at the domestic box office.
And Disney/Pixar’s “Cars 2” collected another $8.3 mil. to cross the $300 mil. mark globally with $312 mil. worldwide and $165 mil. domestically.
— By Scott Hettrick