After big midnight shows, 'Half-Blood Prince' performs just like 'Order of the Phoenix'

After big midnight shows, 'Half-Blood Prince' performs just like 'Order of the Phoenix'

In the end, there were more hard-core muggles but not a big, new crop of moviegoers.

"HarryPotter and the Half-Blood Prince" earned a studio-estimated $159.7million in its first five days in the U.S. and Canada, another strongstart for the series and a modest jump from the $139.7 million that itspredecessor "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" opened to inJuly 2007.

Overseas, "Half-Blood Prince" was bigger, earning$237 million in 54 foreign territories. Although comparisons aredifficult due to ticket-price inflation as well as the mix of countries where movies open, it's clearly one of the biggest internationalstarts of all time. "Order of the Phoenix" launched in 44 foreignterritories and earned $193 million in its first five days.

Worldwideticket sales for "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" were a massive$396.7 million, a very healthy debut even given the sizable $250million that Warner Bros. spent on production and $155 million tomarket and distribute the picture around the globe.

Many close observers of the box office had expected an even bigger domestic launch for"Harry," however, after it soared past previous records for midnightshows on its opening day, selling $22.2 million worth of tickets domestically.The previous record was $18.5 million for "The Dark Knight" last year."Order of the Phoenix" earned only $12 million from its debut midnightshowings. Based on that, it looked like the new "Potter" had a shot atbreaking the record for a five-day opening starting on a Wednesday of$200.1 million that "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" set lastmonth.

After the big late-night start, however, "Half-BloodPrince" quickly settled into a box-office performance that almostmirrored "Order of the Phoenix." After accounting for a rise in ticket prices of about  8% over the last two years, theremaining advantage for the new film can be attributed to earningsfrom its midnight debut.

It seems, in other words, that as thedevoted fan base for the series has aged over the years, there are moreteenagers and young adults eager to wait in line for the first shows.But beyond them, Warners' huge market campaign essentially brought outthe same audience that came to the last "Harry Potter" movie.

Theaudience for "Half-Blood Prince" was slightly older than for previous filmsin the series but, otherwise, nearly identical. Once again, audiencesloved the movie, giving it an average grade of "A-," according to marketresearch firm CinemaScore. The picture is likely on its way to a finalgross similar to that of "Order of the Phoenix": $292 milliondomestically and $646.2 million overseas.

Universal and financierMedia Rights Capital felt the pain of a bad audience reaction as"Bruno" plummeted 73% on its second weekend. That's the biggest dropfor any film this year and more evidence, along with the CinemaScore of"C," that moviegoers simply don't like the second partially improvisedfarce from Sacha Baron Cohen.

Still, "Bruno" has grossed $49.6 million domestically and $46 million overseas, a decent totalgiven that Universal paid $42.5 million for distribution rights in theU.S. and most major foreign countries.

Though no other new movies dared challenge "Harry Potter" nationwidethis weekend, "500 Days of Summer" had a fantastic start at 27 theatersin 10 cities. The indie romantic comedy sold $837,500 worth of tickets,giving it a strong average of $31,000 at each location. Accordingto Sheila DeLoach, senior vice president of distribution for FoxSearchlight, the picture sold out nearly every show at its fourtheaters in Los Angeles.

Next weekend, it expands to a total ofabout 80 theaters in 17 new cities. "500 Days" will continue to growfrom there until it's playing across the country on Aug. 7.

SummitEntertainment's war drama "The Hurt Locker" also continues to performsolidly in limited release, having earned $2.2 million over four weeks,during which it has expanded to a total of 93 theaters.

Here's alist of the top 10 movies at the box office in the U.S. and Canada,based on data provided by the studios and Hollywood.com:

1. "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" (Warner Bros.): $79.5 million for the weekend, $159.7 million since it opened Wednesday.

2. "Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs"(Fox): $17.7 million, down only 36% despite the competition forfamilies from "Harry Potter." Domestic gross is now $152 million.

3. "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" (Paramount): $13.75 million, down 43% on its fourth weekend. Domestic total is $363.9 million.

4. "Bruno"(Universal/Media Rights Capital): Plummeted 73% on its second weekendto $8.4 million. Total ticket sales in the U.S. and Canada are $49.6million.

5. "The Hangover" (Warner Bros./Legendary):Continues to hold on very strong, dropping only 16% to $8.3 million onits seventh weekend. Domestic total: $235.9 million.

6. "The Proposal"(Disney): Also showing strength at the box office, the romantic comedyfell just 22% on its fifth weekend to $8.3 million. Total ticket salesin the U.S. and Canada are $128.1 million.

7. "Public Enemies" (Universal/Relativity): $7.6 million on its third weekend, a drop of 45%. Domestic total: $79.5 million.

8. "Up"(Disney): $3.1 million, down 33% on its eighth weekend. The latestPixar animated feature has grossed $279.6 million in theU.S. and Canada.

9. "My Sister's Keeper" (Warner Bros./New Line): Declined 34% on its fourth weekend to $2.8 million. Total ticket sales domestically: $41.5 million.

10. "I Love You, Beth Cooper" (Fox): $2.7 million, a drop of 46% on its second weekend. Domestic total is $10.3 million.

-- Ben Fritz

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Harry Potter breaks Hollywood's midnight ticket sales record

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Review: Kenneth Turan on "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince"

Read more "Harry Potter" coverage on Hero Complex

Photos, from top:Daniel Radcliffe and Bonnie Wright in "Harry Potter and the Half-BloodPrince." Credit: Warner Bros. Zooey Deschanel and Joseph Gordon-Levittin "500 Days of Summer." Credit: Chuck Zlotnick / Fox SearchlightPictures

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