'Potter' finale conjures up $1 billion worldwide
Updated: 2011-08-01 09:35
(Agencies)
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 Actress Emma Watson (C) poses with actors Rupert Grint (L) and Daniel Radcliffe (R) at the world premiere of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2" in Trafalgar Square, in central London, July 7, 2011. [Photo/Agencies]
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Distributor Warner Bros said Sunday that "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2" crossed the $1 billion mark at the worldwide box office. It's soon expected to pass "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides," which is this year's top grossing movie at $1.03 billion.
The last of the eight films about the young wizard is the first in the franchise to reach the billion dollar mark. The previous best global haul was $974.8 million for the original film, 2001's "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone."
With $21.9 million domestically this weekend, "Deathly Hallows: Part 2" climbed to a domestic total of $318.5 million. That tops the franchise's previous best of $317.6 million for "Sorcerer's Stone."
But factoring in today's higher admission prices, "Deathly Hallows: Part 2" has not caught up to "Sorcerer's Stone" in terms of actual tickets sold.
The 2009 film "Avatar" holds the record for the biggest worldwide box office haul, grossing $2.8 billion. It's followed by another James Cameron film, "Titanic," which brought in $1.8 billion.