Monday Morning Quarterback Part II
By BOP Staff
July 12, 2011
I think that Deathly Hallows Part 2 has a shot at breaking the opening weekend record, but wouldn't call it a sure thing. The series has been remarkably consistent over the years, and whilst I have no doubt that a huge number of Potter fans will be out to see it opening weekend and it will probably have the highest opening of the series, I don't know how many people outside of the converted will want to jump in at this point. It may be a huge cultural moment, but if I wasn't already invested in the franchise, I don't know if I would go and see the eighth and final part of a series just because everyone is talking about it.
Bruce Hall: I may be the only person on Earth who attempted to read the first Potter book and said "Meh". I watched the first film and found it entertaining, but not unforgettable. I watched The Prisoner of Azbekmatron or whatever the hell it was called and was kind of just done with the whole thing. It's not because I lack Geek Cred. I still own Legos, possess several editions of the Star Trek technical manual and have read everything Tolkien ever wrote, including the Silmarillion (it's Ambien in book form!). I just couldn't care less about Harry Potter. There. I said it. Come at me, but remember - I wield a replica of Narsil and I know how to use it.
Shalimar Sahota: I have not read any of the books. After watching the first film, I decided to let them be my guide. All the Potter films I saw on the big screen with the exception of Half Blood Prince and Deathly Hallows Part 1. Goblet of Fire is the only one I viewed on its opening day.
I mainly want to focus on the opening weekend, since many will be questioning whether Deathly Hallows Part 2 will top The Dark Knight's record. I remember saying that I thought it would be close, mainly because of the 3D ticket increase, though being a conversion it was already reported that many have booked tickets for the 2D version (something audiences did with Warner Bros' Green Lantern). That Deathly Hallows Part 2 is opening in the summer would be a factor. Prisoner of Azkaban, Order of the Phoenix and Half Blood Prince also opened during the summer. While Prisoner of Azkaban opened with $93 million, the latter two both opened on the lower end of the franchise at $77 million, due to a Wednesday opening. Half Blood Prince also opened on July 15th two years ago. What amazed me the most about Deathly Hallows Part 1 was its opening day gross of $61 million, yet it unfortunately fizzled out on the Saturday and Sunday.
I do feel that the media frenzy about Deathly Hallows Part 2 being the final one will get people going off to see it (I am one of those people who intends to watch this on its opening weekend), but will likely behave similarly with a strong opening day rush that won't be sustained through the weekend. I'm thinking that Potter will attain the highest opening weekend of the franchise, and will probably fall somewhere between $130 - $140 million, leaving The Dark Knight to reign supreme.
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