“Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince” Breaks Records In The Midnight Hour And In Its First Full Day In Release

(July 16, 2009 – Burbank, CA) – Warner Bros. Pictures’ “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” has already shattered two box office records, first breaking the record for a midnight opening with $22.2 million, eclipsing the studio’s own record set last year by “The Dark Knight.” “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” then flew past the worldwide opening day box office record: with the domestic gross of $58.18 million and the international totals of $45.85 million combining for an astounding one-day global box office gross of more than $104 million. The joint announcement was made today by Dan Fellman, President of Domestic Distribution and Veronika Kwan-Rubinek, President of International Distribution. Fellman said, “We are so happy to share ‘Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince’ with the fans and thrilled that they turned out in record numbers to see it.” Kwan-Rubinek said, “With many countries yet to open, these already outstanding box office numbers are another testament to the universal appeal of J.K. Rowling’s stories and the remarkable work of everyone behind the Harry Potter films.” Alan Horn, President and Chief Operating Officer, Warner Bros., stated, “Quite simply, we owe this record-breaking opening to the remarkable fans who have stood by us and who stood in line to be among the first to see ‘Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.’ We thank them again for their patience and we hope they agree with us that the film was well worth the wait.” Jeff Robinov, President of Warner Bros. Pictures Group, added, “Everyone at Warner Bros. joins me in congratulating the cast and filmmakers who have made another worthy addition to the amazing Harry Potter film franchise and are already hard at work on the next film.” Sue Kroll, President of Worldwide Marketing, Warner Bros. Pictures, remarked, “From our earliest screenings, the response to ‘Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince’ has been overwhelming, and we have been inspired by the enthusiasm generated by the film. As the movies have gotten bigger and better, it has been a wonderful challenge to create bigger and better marketing campaigns to excite Harry Potter fans and create new ones. We are delighted that this latest film seems to have done both on a global level.” Producer David Heyman said, “We are so grateful to Jo Rowling, whose books are the foundation of our success. We share this with our remarkable team—director, writer, cast and crew—with whom I am privileged to work every day and whose ambition for the films never ceases to amaze me. Thanks also to our friends at Warner Bros. and especially to our countless Harry Potter fans around the world for their support.” In “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince,” the Death Eaters are wreaking havoc in both the Muggle and wizarding worlds and Hogwarts is no longer the safe haven it once was. Harry suspects that new dangers may lie within the castle, but Dumbledore is more intent upon preparing him for the final battle that he knows is fast approaching. He needs Harry to help him uncover a vital key to unlocking Voldemort’s defenses. Meanwhile, the students are under attack from a very different adversary as teenage hormones rage across the ramparts. Love is in the air, but tragedy lies ahead and Hogwarts may never be the same again. Warner Bros. Pictures presents a Heyday Films production, “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince,” the sixth installment of Warner Bros. Pictures’ Harry Potter film franchise. Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson return in the roles of Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger. The film also stars Helena Bonham Carter, Jim Broadbent, Robbie Coltrane, Michael Gambon, Alan Rickman, Maggie Smith, Timothy Spall, David Thewlis, Warwick Davis, Tom Felton, Helen McCrory, Julie Walters and Bonnie Wright. “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” is directed by David Yates from a screenplay by Steve Kloves, based on the novel by J.K. Rowling. David Heyman and David Barron produced the film, with Lionel Wigram serving as executive producer and John Trehy co-producing. “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” is being distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company. “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince": An IMAX 3D Experience—digitally re-mastered into the unparalleled image and sound quality of The IMAX Experience® through proprietary IMAX DMR® technology—is being released by Warner Bros. Pictures in select theatres in Los Angeles, New York and Chicago concurrently with the nationwide 35mm release in traditional theatres. The film will open nationwide in IMAX on July 29th. Using IMAX’s revolutionary live action 2D to 3D conversion technology, the movie’s opening sequence has been transformed into IMAX 3D. The film will also be shown completely in IMAX 2D in select locations without IMAX® 3D capability. This film has been rated PG for scary images, some violence, language and mild sensuality. # # #