Harry Potter Top Grossing Motion Picture Franchise
Warner Brothers has announced this evening that the Harry Potter series is the largest-grossing film franchise to date globally, surpassing Star Wars and and James Bond. Totaling $4.47 billion in ticket sales (with two films left to go, WB points out), several high-ups at Warner Brothers are quoted in the press release:In making the announcement, Alan Horn [President & Chief Operating Officer] 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.”Of note, Variety has published an article comparing the Potter film franchise to the other big ones:
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.”
Bond, which dates back to 1962, has generated $4.44 billion worldwide and the "Star Wars" pics have pulled down $4.23 billion since the first release in 1977. None of the tallies account for inflation or rising ticket prices.To read the press release from Warner Brothers, click the link below.
And domestically the "Star Wars" franchise still far outpaces the boy wizard. All told, the "Star Wars" pics have grossed $2.18 billion, while the "Harry Potter" franchise has grossed $1.41 billion. But then there are still two more "Potters" to go.
And all three have generated millions upon millions in downstream ancillary coin for their studios, once homevideo and TV revenue are added into the tallies.
Press Release:
WARNER BROS. PICTURES’ HARRY POTTER FILMS COMBINE TO
BECOME THE BIGGEST FILM FRANCHISE IN HISTORY
Harry Potter Film Franchise Surpasses James Bond
and Star Wars, With Two Films Yet to Come
BURBANK, CA, September 10, 2007 – 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.
WARNER BROS. PICTURES’ HARRY POTTER FILMS COMBINE TO
BECOME THE BIGGEST FILM FRANCHISE IN HISTORY
Harry Potter Film Franchise Surpasses James Bond
and Star Wars, With Two Films Yet to Come
BURBANK, CA, September 10, 2007 – 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.
Posted by Andrew on Sep 10th |
801 Comments
Visitor Comments
Congrats, Harry, you were made to break records! ;-)
oh. fudge. no. IF I DIDN'T GO TO PRIVATE SCHOOL I AM ZONED FOR HOLLYWOOD HIGH. fudge life.
I'd have to agree with harrypottergeek. When Star Wars Episode IV was first seen in 1977, people who had seen it went right back in line at the theater to see it all over again! You can't compare this to that! The Harry Potter films are popular not because of the acting and the film itself, but rather because people want to see how the books would look, and how the magic would look. The Star Wars franchise has inspired a massive fan following - there is all sorts of Star Wars merchandise, and the movies have even inspired its own "Expanded Universe" of books. I'm sorry, but the Harry Potter films alone cannot even hope do achieve anything like this; it is only because of the books that it has surpassed Star Wars and James Bond.
that's cool. Yeah, iheartmugglecast, Harry Potter IS cool like that
hey!!!!! 55th? kewl, can't wait for the others
I kNOW ME TOO!! Hey any cheesecakians??
Lol of course!! of course HP tops the list... congrats WB. But i bet if you did the last 2 mvies a lot better you could make billions... sigh. And today's the 6th 9/11 aniversery.
holaaaa cheesecakeians......where art thou???
HALLELUJAH! GOD HAS ANSWERED OUR PRAYERS, FELLOW POTTERMANIACS: HARRY POTTER IS THE BIGGEST FRANCHISE EVER. HUZZAH! LET US CELEBRATE BY STUFFING OUR FACES WITH CHEESECAKE AND NERD ROPES! HUZZAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH!
I don't think a comparison like this is really fair. If you don't take inflation into account, it's a false premise. You're comparing HP to films released over 30 years ago - when ticket prices were less than half what they are now. Props to WB for trying to promote their films but they should have marked their comments with a Roger Maris asterisk.
top 100
hey everyone! comment ca va?
Is there any record that Harry Potter didn't brake so far ... This one really is huge though. Rock on
The books are what made the movies. They wouldn't exist without them. The movies aren't nearly as good and he is thanking the actors and everyone who made the MOVIES! J.K. Rowling is the CREATOR of the Harry Potter world!!! P.S. Never forget... 9-11-01 Remember forever!!
of couse, haha, harry potter is prettty much awesomee.
If anybody is curious in seeing the *proper* numbers, you can go here: http://www.boxof ficemojo.com/alltime/adju sted.htm Notice how once it's adjusted for inflation, only 1 out of the 5 movies makes the list (at #65), and it is surpassed by 5 out of 6 Star Wars films. WB really shouldn't be bragging -- this is a combination of ticket prices rising to ridiculous heights and of JKR's brilliance.
Harry Potter, always the best
woo that is the best news ever woo but with the books finished an a tad sad cos muggle net may be ending soon
omg awesome
top 70??? thats really awsome. im totazlly not suprized
harry potter really deserves it. the movies arent as good as the books, but i wont pretend, i really do love them! they may not follow the books as much we want, but they did a pretty good job. i mean, they cant put in harry walking into lupins office with a grindylow can they? they have to cut out the un-important stuff. or, at least, the not-so-important.
Can you imagine how much money the final movie will make, even in the first day alone? It'll be a ridiculous amount.
**** i meant a grindylow in a tank..... yeah lol
oh i know, it will be. i cant wait to see the last two, but i hope they dont cut out some of the important stuff.
HALLELUJAH! GOD HAS ANSWERED OUR PRAYERS, FELLOW POTTERMANIACS: HARRY POTTER IS THE BIGGEST FRANCHISE EVER. HUZZAH! LET US CELEBRATE BY STUFFING OUR FACES WITH CHEESECAKE AND NERD ROPES! HUZZAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH!
uh, you already posted that ... >.< omg but this really is amazing. excuse me, are you the imprint of a departed soul? lol i gtg
Imissfred: are YOU an imprint of a departed puppet? BOTHER!
lol!" hi im harry potter and im ron weasley ! lets go bother snape! bother bother bother bother bother bother! that was fun! i liked the part where he stopped moving!" lol i love the potter puppet pals...
thats pretty amazing!
right... because we didn't already know that.
thank you, potter puppet pals is pretty amazing lol
YEAH. HARRY POTTER FANS ARE MAKING HISTORY WITH OUR OBSESSION!
Whoop whoop, go Harry Potter! Not that I'm even surprised. It was bound to happen, especially since OOTP is still doing well in theaters. HP is just awesome like that lol. I can't wait to see how well HBP and DH do.
That is huge. HUGE. and its still going.. 2 more movies. September Eleventh. Never forget the heroes, the victims, and just what we're fighting for.
awesome! go Harry Potter!!!! :)
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOO! Harry Potter Rocks! So does Star Wars tho!
OMG!! AWSOME!!! even though not everything in life is about money, but still....AWSOME!!! and as they said, we still have two movies to go, and expect at least $800 million from HBP and DH....
all of the success is due to JKR's ability to produce a plot universally well liked...i hate the actors who play the trio but i still watch the movies cuz they are based on the coolest series ever..so that just proves it has nothing ot do with casting or what not...all credit goes to jkr! so YAY JKR!!!!
no all the credit does not go to jkr i mean she awesome and everything but the trio actors are not horrible they rock and are the best ppl for the part and w/o them the movies wood never be the same
coolie 90th!!!1 ^_^ yesterday was my kitty's b-day
Harry Potter is just so much cooler than anything else that ever existed.
GO harry potter!!! that is so amzaing
We MUST beat star wars! My cousin is a star wars fanatic and we always argue hp vs star wars.
ohmgaw!!!! i just called emerson on my podcast and then it got deleted!!!!! :(
yey! i submitted this news!~~~ finally, i knew harry potter would eventually get to the top! I am so happy the films are doing this well.
um why was there no mugglecast this week? i love mugglecast listen to it every sunday. i was dissapointed there was none :( The magic must go on people we still got two more films, a theme park, an encyclopedia, and maybe even a HP musical to look foward to! Long live HP!
YAY HARRY POTTER! It still amazes me how well HP does! It is just so HUGE!
ok if the credit is distributed then i say 80% of the credit goes to JKR then 15% goes to screen writers directors, the people who do the scenery and all that, and then 5% for the actors. i mean for gods sake if they did a whole harry potter movie series with the cast from Harry Potter Puppet Pals it would still be a ginormous hit! and i love hp puppet pals! hillarious!!!
no, -5% goes to actors, they drove ppl away.... except tom and rupert, they're hot!!!
omg. im just too excited. im going to meet jk rowling. ahh! im speechless.
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