Harry Potter GOF is #2 on MovieTickets.com

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 18 /PRNewswire/-- Even before Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire flew into theaters, the film landed on MovieTickets.com best- selling list which tracks the company's largest number of tickets sold in advance of a movie opening. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire opens in theaters nationwide today.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire is also on track to rank in MovieTickets.com's top five overall best-selling list of all time, a final compilation of most tickets sold for a single film. This list is tallied after a film has been in release for a significant time.

"Exhibitors and studios can breathe a sigh of relief that current releases are still breaking records. Momentum of online ticket sales serves as a key consumer indicator, tracking how popular a movie will be on opening weekend and through its lifespan. As evidenced by its high volume of advance ticket sales, Goblet is sure to be another blockbuster," said Walt Borchers, vice president, sales & marketing, MovieTickets.com.

The following are MovieTickets.com's top 10 pre-sale best sellers:

#1 Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith
#2 Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
#3 The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
#4 The Matrix Reloaded
#5 Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones
#6 The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
#7 Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
#8 Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
#9 Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
#10 The Passion of the Christ

Could it hit $40m on opening day,

It could, but I predict an opening of $38-39 million. The first estimates might put it at $40 million, the same happened to PoA. I do think that it made at least $8-9 million in midnight showings already, though. Therefore, it should have somewhat of a drop on Saturday.

I'm quite surprised actually that the midnights have not been released yet - so to the international opening day figures. I can't find figures anywhere in Hollywood Reporter, ScreenDaily or Variety, if WOTW and Batman Begins can have news results - why can't Harry Potter 4, this baffles me

Yup, I searched everything as well. Maybe WB wants to surprise everyone with a huge bang at once.

It will surely be a huge bang either way, - it will seriously challenge ROTS/ROTK's stranglehold on opening day and opening weekend records in most of Europe.

The figure i'm most eager to see is how this performs in the UK, It needs to get out of the gate quick because within 2 weeks, Narnia and King Kong will hit.

China's Box Office Revenue to Grow 30%

http://en.chinabroadcast.cn/349/2005/11/19/44@31616.htm

The total film box office revenue in China is certain to reach 2 billion yuan ($250 million dollars U.S.) this year, a Chinese film distributor said Thursday.

According to the box office results of the main cinema chains across the country, total revenue will grow by 30 percent from last year, said Weng Li, deputy general manager of the film exhibition and distribution arm of the China Film Group. So, it's not a question that the country's total box office revenue this year will exceed the 1.5 billion yuan level of last year, he said at the premiere ceremony of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire in Beijing, Thursday evening.

Earlier this month, Wang Tianyun, CEO of the Shanghai Film Group, forecast that nation's box office revenue would go beyond 3billion yuan. The development momentum of the Chinese film industry is very good at present, Wang said.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, the fourth installment of a hugely successful series of films, has attracted more Chinese attention than Star Wars Episode III, according to Weng.

The box office revenue of Star Wars Episode III in China, through the first weekend after release, ranked 10th around the world, the first time that China was among top 10 on the list of the world box office results, since it started importing U.S. films in 1994.

The tickets for the first showings of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire in many cinemas have been sold out, Weng said.

FINLAND - Previews

With previews alone, Harry Potter 4 has already dominated the Finiish market, landing at #1 ahead of Wallace & Gromit's 4th week.

Harry Potter 4: GOF - $108,479 (51)
Finding Nemo - $81,098 (53)
Brother Bear - $54,001 (50)
The Day After Tomorrow - $53,382 (52)
Shrek 2 - $53,307 (61)
Bruce Almighty - $50,287 (32)
Pirates of the Caribbean - $44,288 (44)
Batman Begins - $39,759 (24)

Unlike past Harry Potter pics which had the full 5-Day opening, HP4 will only get 3-Days.

The 3-Day record holder is ROTS at $856,527 (66) while the 5-Day opening belongs to ROTK at $1,466,798 (68).

Could HP4 be the first installment to pass $1m for the franchise? It's 50-50 at this point i think.

Harry Potter 2: COS - $1m
Harry Potter 3: POA - $971,311 (€792,454 or $508,970/ €415,248/ 51,338 adms. 3-Day - 70)
Harry Potter 1: PS - $953,854 (5-Day or $663,500 3-Day - 66)

Hogwarts huge in any language

By BEN FRITZ, DAVE MCNARY
http://www.variety.com/article/VR111793 ... id=13&cs=1

This weekend it's Harry's world. Everyone else just lives in it.

With tracking through the roof and only Fox's adult-oriented "Walk the Line" daring to open against it, Warner Bros.' "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" looks set to at least match the performance of its three predecessors -- which all opened to around $90 million -- as it bows on 3,858 screens.

"Goblet" is also launching at 5,900 engagements in 19 foreign markets during the frame, with the key openings in the U.K., Germany and Mexico. Other significant markets include Austria, China, Scandinavia, Switzerland, Taiwan and Thailand.

"Harry Potter" pics have always conjured up more coincoin overseas. The first three cumed $1.82 billion overseas, about twice the $930 million they saw Stateside.

As it did with previous franchise entries, Warner Bros. Intl. will employ a staggered foreign release pattern -- launching in major territories over three frames rather than going day-and-date all at once. "Goblet of Fire" will open in 17 markets next weekend, including Italy, Japan and Spain, followed by launches in Australia, France and South Korea during the first December frame.

First two "Potter" films also opened on the third weekend of November -- in 2001 and 2002 -- and on about the same number of screens. They drew $90.3 million and $88.4 million domestic, respectively.

"Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban," which hit 3,800-plus screens on the first weekend of June last year, bowed to $93.7 million domestic.

Worldwide, "Azkaban" opened to $206 million with 24 foreign territories (including four extra weekdays in the U.K.). "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets," the second pic, had a $148 million global debut. Original "Potter" opened in only two foreign territories simultaneous with the U.S., making an extra $26.1 million in the U.K. and Taiwan.

"Goblet of Fire" could be the No. 2 debut of the year domestically, behind only the $108.4 million for "Star Wars: Episode III -- Revenge of the Sith" in May. Currently in the second spot is "War of the Worlds," which bowed to $77 million over the four-day July Fourth weekend.

Pic's weekend take will benefit from midnight shows this morning. Online ticketer Fandango reported it had already sold out hundreds of them and that "Goblet of Fire" was its second-biggest pic ever in terms of advance sales, behind only "Sith."

With the first PG-13 rating for a "Potter" pic, however, WB may have a challenge topping the past three, as some families with young kids could stay away. Studio is no doubt hoping that positive notices and buzz about its more mature content will bring in enough adults to make up for the missing tots.

"The tracking is huge, and we have no concerns that the box office is going to be great," said Dan Fellman, WB's domestic distribdistrib toppertopper. "Whether it will be $5 million more or less (than previous 'Potter' films), it's hard to say."

With "Goblet of Fire" the first of several blockbusters opening this holiday season, including Disney and Walden's "The Chronicles of Narnia" and Universal's "King Kong," industryites are hoping this weekend will be the beginning of an uptick that can help erase the B.O.B.O. deficit. So far, 2005 grosses are off 7% from 2004

--

"As the core fans mature, we adjust our marketing strategy accordingly," Kroll added. "The campaign embraces the darker storyline and especially highlights the more extreme action and adventure that the film offers. The fact that Harry has a crush and Hermione has a prom date -- they are real teenagers now -- is used to appeal to the target."

I expect over 250 000 admission for first weekend in Poland... Then it will hope to reach 1 milion admissions... If it passes it then it will be success... Bring 2006 because this year is very poor compared to last year in Polish Box Office

UPDATE FROM GERMANY:


While they didn't release a number it is said that Harry Potter had the biggest Friday in Germany of all previous installments and rose greatly from Thursday. The current tracking puts its 5-day admissions number at 2,700,000 which would be above ROTK's 5-day weekend and the biggest opening ever in Germany if you disregard whether it's 4-day or 5-day.

Knowing how this tracking is usually conservative, I'd say that it has a shot at a 2.8-2.9 million admissions weekend.

Now that's more like it!

It will surely crack 250,000! In fact, it will be a dissapointment if it doesn't hit 300,000 admissions.

Chicken Little opened to 223k admissions last weekend, one of the largest openings for an animated feature - the woes Poland has been experiencing this year looks like it could end.....

POLAND - Opening Weekend (Adms.)

Shrek 2 - 615.489 adms. (101)
Lord Of The Rings: ROTK - 592.741 adms. (4-Day - 150)
Lord Of The Rings: FOTR - 518.901 adms. (109)
Lord Of The Rings: TTT - 464.944 adms. (135)
The Matrix: Reloaded - 447.550 adms.
Harry Potter 2: COS - 425.203 adms. (126)
Pan Tadeusz - 424.895 adms.
The Matrix: Revolutions - 407.297 amds. (5-Day - 145)
Harry Potter 1: PS - 355 955 adns,
The Passion Of The Christ - 339.370 adms. (85)
Ogniem i Mieczem - 335.613 adms.
Star Wars 3: ROTS - 332.820 adms. (4-Day - 163)
W Pustyni i w Puszczy - 321.868 adms.
Harry Potter 3: POA - 309.469 adms. (130)
Quo Vadis - 305.825 adms.

Madagascar - 280.468 adms. (100)
Nigdy w Zyciu! - 243.252 adms. (60)
Chicken Little - 223.022 adms. (120)

UPDATE FROM GERMANY II:


The movie is on course to a 2,400,000 admissions 4-day weekend (not counting Wednesday and the midnight showings). That would already make it the third-biggest opener of all time in Germany, behind HP1 and HP2, even though those opened on a Thursday and this one on a Wednesday. For the 5-day weekend around 2.7 million admissions are expected, but that is on the low end, as Insidekino.de has claimed. The number might go up by 100-200k admissions.

Thus, I think it is safe to say that if Harry Potter 4 was released on a Thursday in Germany, it'd have delivered the biggest 4-day opening ever.

$80m international gross so far:

Austria 11/18/05 $2,500,000 11/20/05
China 11/18/05 $3,400,000 11/20/05
Denmark 11/18/05 $2,600,000 11/20/05
Germany 11/17/05 $19,800,000 11/20/05
Mexico 11/18/05 $6,800,000 11/20/05
Norway 11/18/05 $2,200,000 11/20/05
Sweden 11/18/05 $2,500,000 11/20/05
Taiwan 11/18/05 $3,500,000 11/20/05
Thailand 11/18/05 $2,000,000 11/20/05
United Kingdom 11/18/05 $24,600,000 11/20/05

UK - £14,300,000

It is not confirmed whether it is with or without previews. If it is without previews, that would be beyond amazing.

Dr. L, why would it be amazing? I'm so out of loop with the box office I mean, would that be a record?

Well, let's just say that if it is WITH previews, it would be horrible because that would be the lowest opening for a Harry Potter movie ever.

However, as far as I know, previews in the UK are usually extensive and pretty big, so they should add another £4-5 million and make this the 2nd biggest opening for Potter, behind the third movie which had a week of previews and Bank Holiday going for it.

It didn't break the record in Thailand ??

but $2m. is still great, might be biggest opening of the year!

Well one thing is sure. It will be on 174 copies so one record already beaten. Since it's November and the weather is bad I think that it might go over 400 000 if they make some big advertising this upcoming week. Other way it will end somewhere between 300k-350k.

The UK opening is apparently without previews and is the biggest 3-day opening of all-time there!

Here is a link with fulkl info:

http://movies.yahoo.com/mv/news/va/2005 ... 94900.html

GERMANY UPDATE:


The movie scored the 2nd biggest 5-day opening of all-time (behind ROTK) and the 3rd biggest 4-day opening (behind HP1 and HP2) in Germany.

5-day weekend - 2,625,000 admissions
4-day weekend - 2,350,000 admissions

Franky the 5-day weekend seems a bit too low. Only 275,000 people saw it opening day? Kind of unlikely. So either the 3-day figure is wrong, or expect the 5-day figure to go up with actuals. Either way, a total of around 8,000,000 admissions at least is to be expected.

HP4 holds the franchise record in all of the above markets except for Thailand and UK.......though it's huge everywhere else and on par with ROTK.

..and brings in mighty $80m haul in 19 international territories

Jeremy Kay in Los Angeles 21 November 2005
http://www.screendaily.com/story.asp?storyid=24250

Just as it did in North America, Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire re-wrote the record book with a superlative international launch that generated an estimated $80m from 5,300 prints in 19 countries.

The fourth instalment in the children's franchise opened number one in all its markets, led by an industry best UK debut of $24.6m from 1,462 sites that would have dominated a handful of recent North American weekends.

Warner Bros Pictures International (WBPI) sources said this was both the biggest three-day opening and three-day weekend ever in the territory.

Germany's $19.8m and 2.5million admissions from 1,243 prints produced 85% of the top five market share and ranks as the biggest ever four-day opening, the biggest ever Harry Potter opening, and the third biggest ever opening weekend of all time behind the last two episodes of The Lord Of The Rings.

In Mexico Potter opened on $6.8m from 654 prints for the biggest ever Warner Bros debut and the third biggest industry opening ever.

Taiwan generated $3.5m from 184 prints for the second biggest opening day ever behind Kung Fu Hustle and the biggest ever launch for Warner Bros and the Potter franchise.

Goblet Of Fire became the first in the franchise to open in China day-and-date with North America and preliminary estimates indicate an excellent $3.4m from 349 prints, which would make this the biggest ever release for a Warner Bros title.

In other records, the picture generated biggest three-day opening marks excluding previews in Denmark on $2.6m on 97 prints, in Sweden on $2.5m on 168, and in Norway on $2.2m on 109.

Austria produced the second biggest Warner bros debut ever on $2.5m on 173 to trail only The Lord Of The Rings: The Return Of The King. Thailand generated $2m on 218 for the industry's biggest ever Saturday and Warner Bros' biggest opening ever.

The Potter juggernaut rolls into Japan, Italy, Spain, Brazil, Argentina and Benelux next weekend, followed in the first weekend of December with France, and Australia, and Russia in the middle of the month.

Admissions-wise, that is not true. It has the third-biggest 4-day opening with the report.

The German cinebiz.de site says that the 4-day estimate is at around 2,400,000 admissions and the Wednesday number is unclear yet as the midnight showings have NOT been counted in the reported 300,000 admissions and they say that when the actuals come in it will most likely have the biggest opening ever admissions-wise, at least for the 5-day weekend, beating ROTK.

Which means that the actual 5-day result will likely be at around 2.8 million admissions.

Actually it had the best 3-day opening ever in UK, so it does hold a record there as well.

Harry Potter had the 6th biggest worldwide opening ever and that despite having opened in just a handful of countries outside the USA. The only ones ahead of it are ROTS, ROTK, The Matrix Revolutions, War of the Worlds and TTT.


Next weekend should at least be just as big since it will be opening in Japan, where a $12+ milion opening is a lock. In Germany the drop shiuld be no more than 45% from the 4-day opening, probably less than that. The pre-sales for the next weekend are already very strong and not much weaker than for the opening weekend.

I see around $70-75 million next weekend.