Harry Potter bewitches weekend box office

By Alexandra Heilbron on July 16, 2007 | 27 Comments

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix has broken several box office records since opening last Wednesday, including biggest opening on a Wednesday and biggest five-day non-holiday total, with $140 million (all figures US). Transformers was knocked down to second place with an additional $36 million for a total of $223 million in two weeks. Ratatouille scurried to third with $18 million for a two-week take of $143 million. Live Free or Die Hard took in an additional $10.9 million in fourth, while License to Wed earned $7.4 million to round out the top five.

1. Bill Meadows • July 16, 2007 @ 12:07 PM

   It’s a terrible movie; even Potter fans consider it utter crap.

2. Big Earl • July 16, 2007 @ 12:19 PM

   I’ve seen just about every summer movie out there, and CAPTIVITY and LICENSE TO WED are so much better than this Potter dreck.

3. Anonymous • July 16, 2007 @ 12:24 PM

   Best HP movie so far, and I am THE biggest HP fan.

4. Valerie • July 16, 2007 @ 12:24 PM

   “Bratz” is the one movie I’m anxious to see this summer. “Harry” and “The Transformers” don’t interest me at all.

5. Barley • July 16, 2007 @ 12:42 PM

   I was dragged to this by “friends.” Next time, I’M picking the movie…

6. john • July 16, 2007 @ 1:19 PM

   Ratatouille Sucked Transformers,Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix And Surf’s Up Were Real Cool!!

7. Kevin • July 16, 2007 @ 1:26 PM

   i saw it twice over the weekend…love it

8. silentbob • July 16, 2007 @ 1:55 PM

   Harry potter is awsome, and at least it is based on a book and not dolls(Bratz). Hollywood is running out of ideas!

9. Pencil Neck • July 16, 2007 @ 4:47 PM

   Lots of kids paid to see Harry but snuck into my screening of Hostel 2. Their restlessness and annoying insistence on talking back to the screen completely ruined the film for me.

10. MOUNTAIN MAN • July 16, 2007 @ 8:10 PM

    HOSTEL 2 rocks!!

11. Gormless • July 16, 2007 @ 9:46 PM

    Nearly everyone left the theater before the end credits were over.

12. Harry Potter Swims With The Fishes • July 17, 2007 @ 9:15 AM

    Why waste your time and money on dross like this?!?! Criss Angel is a real life Harry Potter, and his show is far more entertaining and informative than anything Rowling has conjured.

13. Anonymous • July 17, 2007 @ 9:24 AM

    yeah chris angel and Harr Potter really makes sense u crack addict

14. Harry Potter Swims With The Fishes • July 17, 2007 @ 9:31 AM

    Thanks for backing me up, Anonymous.

15. sk8tergirl • July 17, 2007 @ 10:50 AM

    Harry Potter was awsome! I didn’t see Transformers, but I wish I had. Ratatouille was cute. I didn’t see Live Free or Die Hard. License to Wed is supposed to be really funny.

16. the dude • July 17, 2007 @ 11:05 AM

    i have not seen any of the above movies but i think they are cool and worth seeing

17. hermione • July 17, 2007 @ 11:45 AM

    great movie, so what it doesnt follow the book line for line, no book to movie is ever exactly the same.
    this was a great movie especially for potter fans.
    i found those who dont follow the books didnt understand the movie nor did they enjoy it

18. sh-poopie • July 17, 2007 @ 11:47 AM

    transformers was also good, license to wed was absolute crap

19. Kevin • July 17, 2007 @ 1:02 PM

    Oh great, more jealous transformers fans…give it up! potter kicks butt!

20. sk8tergirl • July 17, 2007 @ 7:32 PM

    BIG TIME!

21. Wilmer the Wandering Mongoose • July 17, 2007 @ 7:41 PM

    Tolkien created a more epic and complex universe than Rowling yet Peter Jackson was still able to condense it into three very impressive films. There was never a need to make more than one Potter movie.

22. transverse • July 18, 2007 @ 12:28 PM

    you cant compare lotr to harry potter, i do believe that tolkien created a universe with more creatures languages religons songs and such where as j.k. rowling only made a world.
    both are good for seperate reasons.
    and no peter jackson did not cram lotr into three impressive movies…
    he missed hugh HUGH characters and changed major parts of the story and didnt speak about any of the background of the world.
    also lotr was written soo long ago and had already been made into a movie so it wasnt hard to see what was done wrong what could be changed and so on. directors and writers had been wanting to make a live action version of lotr for years so its not as hard to get it right. the harry potter books had only been out for a little while and there were only a few people who could actually make the movie happen. it was written for kids and it has just grown into something more complex. not starting out to completely take out into another world.

23. transverse • July 18, 2007 @ 12:29 PM

    *huge HUGE
    its been a long day for me

24. Anonymous • July 18, 2007 @ 4:34 PM

    I could not agree with you more, Wilmer; they didn’t need to make more than one Potter film. It’s simply corporate greed that is fuelling this franchise, and that’s never good.

25. Gary • July 18, 2007 @ 4:51 PM

    This was the worst one yet; it’s time for Harry to retire.

26. The Golden Martian • July 18, 2007 @ 11:30 PM

    The Potter books would have been better served as a series of after-school specials.

27. Anonymous • July 18, 2007 @ 11:43 PM

    I’m just glad I didn’t pay full price for this…