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'Harry Potter' movies become most successful film franchise worldwide 
SEPTEMBER 10, 2007 at 10:11 PM
Posted by CHEESER
Source: Warner Bros.
Warner Bros. announced today that the Harry Potter film series has become the most successful movie franchise in history, based on worldwide box office returns.
According to the official press release:
With the success of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Warner Bros. Pictures' Harry Potter films have now become, worldwide, the top-grossing motion picture franchise in history. The announcement was made today by Barry Meyer, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer and Alan Horn, President & Chief Operating Officer, Warner Bros.
The combined worldwide box office gross for the five Harry Potter films to date is in excess of $4.47 billion, surpassing the box office totals of all 22 James Bond films and the six Star Wars movies.
This impressive record comes even as Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is still going strong in theatres around the globe, and with two more highly anticipated Harry Potter films -- Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows -- still in the offing.
In addition to holding the franchise box office record, all five of the Harry Potter films have the distinction of being among the 20 top-grossing box office hits of all time.
In making the announcement, Alan Horn said, "It would be an understatement to say we are proud of the success of the Harry Potter films. We also want to congratulate all of the extraordinary actors, filmmakers and artists who have shared this remarkable cinematic journey with us."
Dan Fellman, Warner Bros. Pictures President of Domestic Distribution, said, "It is a thrill to see the Harry Potter franchise reach this unparalleled mark, and, with two movies yet to come, it is amazing to think what heights the franchise could reach by the end of the decade."
Veronika Kwan-Rubinek, Warner Bros. Pictures President of International Distribution, added, "This worldwide box office record once again proves that the appeal of the Harry Potter movies knows no border, no age limit, and no language barrier. Each of the five films has captured the hearts and sparked the imagination of audiences everywhere."
The next Harry Potter film, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, will open on November 21, 2008. The seventh and final film, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, is planned for a 2010 release.
[Editor's note: There are actually only 21 James Bond films currently in release, not 22 as the press release states. (Thanks, Darin.)]
Congratulations to Warner Bros. and to all the fans for achieving this level of success.
Reader Comments (104)
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Witch
Points: 993
Draco~Angel says:
That is amazing. Harry Potter rocks, baby :-). Whoo!! Just imagine what would happen when the last two films comes out. HP IS #1 :-D.
Posted Sep 10, 2007 at 10:14 PM EST
Student
Points: 288
h.p. says:
Harry Potter is one of the most talked about subjects in the world. So there's no doubt it made it to the top of the franchise!
Posted Sep 10, 2007 at 10:14 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2558
hbluvhp says:
4.47 billion dollars... that's just mind boggling! And the last 2 movies are going to send that number through the roof. I'm proud to have contibuted to some of the success by seeing all of the movies, especially the last 3, multiple times.
Posted Sep 10, 2007 at 10:17 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2031
PHOENIX5625 says:
Go Harry Potter. I love everything about the books and movies are great. JK put the books together so well with everything in them. Good job to everyone who is involved. The last two movies can't come out fast enough.
Posted Sep 10, 2007 at 10:30 PM EST
Witch
Points: 614
Harry_Hermoine_Fanz says:
Yay!! Harry Potter Series just rock! Can't belive they rock the history's movie records too!
Posted Sep 10, 2007 at 10:48 PM EST
Witch
Points: 686
Morgan Evans says:
We all knew it was coming, but it is nice for them to say it. Haha.
Posted Sep 10, 2007 at 10:48 PM EST
Mistress of Music
Points: 8643
ViolaNut says:
Wow... that's really impressively massive, especially considering how much better the books are than the films... [/sour grapes] And two movies yet to come... I wonder if they adjusted for inflation and/or international currency fluctuation...
Yeah, yeah, okay, I'm a Ravenclaw, all right? :-P ;-)
Posted Sep 10, 2007 at 10:56 PM EST
Honeydukes Eye Candy
Points: 3501
Pansyful says:
WUHOO! Harry Potter Rocks! it will kick all other movie's butts L0L. that's what my younger brother said and i completely agree.
Posted Sep 10, 2007 at 11:23 PM EST
Head, Dept of Mysteries
Points: 2948
beowulf says:
Let every other movie company come up with excuses, HP is now the big-dog. And you know what... it was worth every penny! Now bring on 6 and 7!!
Beowulf
Posted Sep 10, 2007 at 11:49 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2762
H/HrShipper4Ever says:
Wow thats awesome. But I say that I expected it. I wonder what the total gross of the films will be after all 7 are realeased. It would be something close to 6 billion for sure.
Posted Sep 11, 2007 at 12:40 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 2nd Class
Points: 1720
Bright Eyes says:
Surpassing starwars! Now that is something to be proud of! COngratulations to HP! ANd there are still 2 more films to go - it would be incredible if it eventually hit 10 billion.
Posted Sep 11, 2007 at 1:15 AM EST
Auror
Points: 2209
Scarlett Kent says:
I am glad about the success of the films, and hope this will encourage even more people to read the books. I hope that some day someone makes a high quality miniseries of the books, because that way many more details can be included than is the case with a feature-length film, and perhaps the role of Dumbledore will be better cast than is currently the case.
Posted Sep 11, 2007 at 1:35 AM EST
Muggle
Points: 93
Kazooie says:
Sure that is a great accomplishment. But think about it. Most of the James Bond movies were made in a time period when $33 million dollars was NOT a standard for movie box office openings. Thats the same with Star Wars. Half of the Star Wars franchise was in the same boat. DURH.
Posted Sep 11, 2007 at 1:38 AM EST
Witch
Points: 554
accio_firebolt says:
Good work harry potter! i want to see the harry potter movies surpass titanic!
Posted Sep 11, 2007 at 1:53 AM EST
Witch
Points: 839
star chaser says:
That is amazing, 5 Harry Potter films making more than 21 James Bond films. Can you imagine how much to whole series will have made after the last two films are released, it will be a fortune.
Posted Sep 11, 2007 at 2:11 AM EST
Auror
Points: 4021
RON's all up in heRmiONe says:
I can't believe this! Okay, yes I can. I am not surprised at all that the HP movies are the most successful film franchise worldwide. I seriously doubt that any future movies or movie franchise in the next 50 years would surpass the box office totals of all 7 HP movies. A real genius would have to come up with something even better than Harry Potter, but I don't think that's possible.
Posted Sep 11, 2007 at 3:02 AM EST
Auror
Points: 2108
Manfred says:
Could this fact possibly be related to the fact that cinem tickets have increased in price by several hundred procents since the sixties?
I mean... come on... the movies can't possibly have gained more money than all the James bond movies, can they? Not if you compare the prices concidering the currencys strength at the time etc
A US dollar in the late 60's was worth more than a dollar is now, am my not right...?
*Manny out*
Posted Sep 11, 2007 at 3:44 AM EST
Crookshanks Caretaker
Points: 3815
hermionefan1 says:
I knew this would happen one day and it did! And yes ticket sales have increased, but one day another series will pass HP and they will say the same thing. But until then HP rules the movies charts and history. Congrats to the HP film series, all actors/actresses, etc.
Posted Sep 11, 2007 at 4:08 AM EST
Auror
Points: 3190
HufflepuffActress says:
Wow that is amazing. Star wars is a big franchise. Not to mention that so far there have only been 5 HP movies compared to the 6 in Star Wars.
Posted Sep 11, 2007 at 4:16 AM EST
Auror
Points: 3190
HufflepuffActress says:
I did not realize that all of the HP films are among 20 top-grossing films. And just the fact that is surpassed a series of 21 successful movies is astonishing.
Posted Sep 11, 2007 at 4:20 AM EST
Wizard
Points: 825
Silly Dragon says:
The succes of the films is not that surprising, seeing as the HP series quickly turned into a worldwide mania. Still, when you think of how it began, it seems unreal. It msut be hard to believe sometimes for JK . Also, beyond the interesty raised by the series, some of the films (#3 and 5 in partiular) are really inventive. Congratulations to the teams, the actors and actresses. That's an excellent start for a career.
Posted Sep 11, 2007 at 5:22 AM EST
Squib
Points: 119
Hogwartian says:
Wow, well that's what I call phenomenal. I didn't think it would beat the James Bond movies, and there's still movies 6 and 7 to release, and they're the most anticipated two.
The series could be over, but it's success is growing and growing. Congrats to all who deserve it.
Posted Sep 11, 2007 at 5:33 AM EST
Auror
Points: 2107
Happy Pancakes says:
WOW!! Go Harry Potter!
I adore the movies they are brilliant.. They are an excellent representation of the amazing books by JK Rowling.
Posted Sep 11, 2007 at 5:41 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 3rd Class
Points: 1415
smart hermione says:
Woop woop! Quite impressing, especially seeing that james bond has always been popular and that hp= movies, james bond=21.
LONG LIVE HARRY POTTER!!!!!
Posted Sep 11, 2007 at 6:20 AM EST
Seer
Points: 15207
Brittany Radcliffe says:
HOLY............wow.
this is pretty much HUGE!
this isnt just here in the US or in the UK, its worldwide!
Posted Sep 11, 2007 at 7:33 AM EST
Auror
Points: 2121
Nataly says:
The most successful movie franchise in history? wow! Congratulations to all!!
Posted Sep 11, 2007 at 7:56 AM EST
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