“Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince” Has A Record-Breaking Opening

(July 20, 2009 – Burbank, CA) – Warner Bros. Pictures’ “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” enjoyed a record-breaking opening, earning a worldwide box office gross of $394 million. The film brought in $158 million from the U.S. and Canada, and $236 million internationally, making it the highest-grossing international opening of any film ever. It was also the widest global release for any Harry Potter film to date, with 54 international markets opening concurrently with North America. The announcement was made jointly today by Dan Fellman, President of Domestic Distribution, and Veronika Kwan-Rubinek, President of International Distribution. Fellman said, “The popularity of Harry Potter, beginning with the extraordinary books and continuing with the films, is truly a worldwide phenomenon. This is just the beginning of another successful chapter in the franchise, and we look forward to the film continuing to play throughout the summer.” Kwan-Rubinek said, “Fans around the world make each new Harry Potter movie a global event, proving that the appeal of Harry Potter knows no borders or cultural barriers. It is a privilege for us to have a part in bringing the latest movie to audiences everywhere.” 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. # # #