International Box Office: Potter Breaks $1 Billion Milestone

August 3, 2011

It took just 17 days for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2 to reach the $1 billion milestone at the worldwide box office, matching a record set by Avatar. Over the weekend it pulled in $65.91 million on 13,156 screens in 61 markets for a total of $698.92 million internationally and $1.02 billion worldwide. It is only the ninth film in history to reach that milestone, but amazingly, it isn't the first, nor is it the last film of the year to do so. The film remained in first place in Germany with $7.93 million on 899 screens over the weekend for a total of $61.70 million after three. It also topped the chart in the U.K. with $7.43 million on 576 screens over the weekend for a total of $90.29 million after three. It was pushed into second place in Japan ($6.93 million on 853 screens over the weekend and $68.74 million in total); France ($5.16 million on 815 screens over the weekend and $44.80 million in total); and in Australia ($4.20 million on 663 screens over the weekend and $48.87 million in total). At this pace, it should overtake Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides before too long, especially since it hasn't opened in China yet. While it has its sights set on the record for biggest worldwide box office for a non-James Cameron film, currently held by Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.

Captain America: The First Avenger expanded significantly and that helped propel the film into second place with $49.63 million on 5,116 screens in 31 markets for a still early total of $54.41 million. The film was stunning in Latin America, earning first place in Mexico with $8.12 million on 1,791 screens and in Brazil with $6.89 million on 572. It also opened in first place in the Australia with a more modest $5.05 million on 428 screens, while it had to settle for second place in the U.K. with $4.85 million on 470. It's too early to tell if the film will match Thor's run, but $300 million to $400 million worldwide is well within reach.

Transformers: Dark of the Moon slipped to third place, but still added $44.85 million on 11,936 screens in 59 markets to its running tally, which now sits at $648.66 million internationally and $986.67 million worldwide. It was announced that it crossed $1 billion worldwide, making it the third film released in 2011 to do so, breaking the record for the most $1 billion movies in one year, set by 2010. The film opened in first place in Japan earning $7.40 million on 779 screens over the weekend for a total opening of $10.60 million. It also crossed $100 million in China with $22.8 million on 6,571 screens over the weekend for a two-week total of $113.7 million. The only Hollywood film to make more in that market was Avatar at $182 million.

Cars 2 continues to expand earning $32.46 million on 6,634 screens in 39 markets for a total of $220.07 million internationally and $402.19 million worldwide. This is enough to overtake A Bug's Life on Pixar's chart, and it if can get to $500 million worldwide, it will at least be considered a financial success. It opened in first place in France ($7.51 million on 709 screens over the weekend and $8.75 million in total); second place in Germany ($6.81 million on 553 screens over the weekend and $7.01 million in total); and third place in Japan ($5.93 million on 514 screens).


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Filed under: International Box Office, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II, Transformers: Dark of the Moon, Cars 2, Captain America: The First Avenger