The Cup Runneth Over for "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire"
"Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire," Warner Bros. Pictures' latest installment of the Potter series, raked in a estimated $101.4 million in North American box office this weekend. With an additional $80 million in international sales, "Goblet" stands to set records with $181.4 million world-wide its opening weekend.
The well-hyped North American debut marked a new high for the franchise, the fourth-biggest non-holiday opening in box-office history and the largest opening in the fourth quarter, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
The film was #1 in all 19 foreign territories where it opened and adds such markets as Japan, Italy and Spain next weekend, with France and Australia in the first week of December, Reuters reported.
The $130 million movie, based on the book by British author J.K. Rowling, stars 16-year-old Daniel Radcliffe as Harry, an orphan who confronts mysteries, murder, dragons, death and - worst of all - puberty at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Series' favorites Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Maggie Smith and Alan Rickman return for this adventure. New additions to the large cast includes Ralph Fiennes as the evil Lord Voldemort, who adds to the film's ominous overtones.
With reviews noting the movie to be much "darker" than its predecessors, exit polls indicated that more adults turned up than usual. The film is rated PG-13 for "sequences of fantasy violence and frightening images," while the first three carried a milder PG rating.
Despite its more adult themes and darker tones, many critics raved about all aspects of the movie. Filmfodder's own Brian Orndorf claimed it to be "the strongest entry to date in this powerhouse fantasy franchise." Two more films, "The Order of the Phoenix" and "The Half-Blood Prince" are in the works for 2007 and 2008 respectively.
"Goblet" director Mike Newell is best known for the 1994 comedy "Four Weddings and a Funeral" and 1997's "Donnie Brasco." He is not currently slated to direct the series' upcoming films.
The latest "Potter" joins an elite club for record earnings in a three day weekend. "Spider-Man," bowed with $115 million in 2002, while "Star Wars: Episode III -- Revenge of the Sith" began with $108.4 million earlier this year, just edging out "Shrek 2" with $108 million in 2004.
It looks like this year's movie-going slump the industry has been complaining about is over. Perhaps audiences just needed something "worthwhile" to go see. (Joss Whedon's brilliant film Serenity excepted.... I'm praying for another installment of that. It'll be available on DVD December 20th - buy people! buy!) -- Shannon Nolley
Even if you don't watch Firefly, I think Serenity can stand up on its own. Of course, there's lots of interesting character development in the series that you couldn't fit into the movie and have it be interesting.
-- Posted by: Shannon at November 21, 2005 4:26 AMi saw this last night. it was quite good i thought. they glossed over exaplining most things. and if i hadnt read the books then i might have been confused. and they left out the houseelf. that was disappointing.
-- Posted by: laura at November 21, 2005 5:29 PMDaniel Radcliffes scene in the bathroom was the best part of the movie! you go dan
Serenity is excellent. Buy the Firefly box set as well while you're at it. If you watch it first, you'll enjoy Serenity even more, I promise.
-- Posted by: Doug at November 21, 2005 4:21 AM