FED: Harry Potter makes $9.3 million on opening weekend

AAP General News (Australia)
12-03-2001
FED: Harry Potter makes $9.3 million on opening weekend

SYDNEY, Dec 3 AAP - Harry Potter has edged out Star Wars for the highest box office
takings over an opening weekend in Australia, raking in an estimated $9.3 million.

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone spellbound record audiences across Australia
over the weekend, with the teenage wizard pulling in some 1.2 million fans.

The previous record was held by Star Wars: Episode One with $9.1 million in 1999.

Roadshow Film Distributors chairman Ian Sands said the result was "sensational".

Most major chains were showing the movie on multiple screens, with session times starting
at 45 minute or one hourly intervals.

The bespectacled teenager had already set a record for the highest grossing film on
its opening day in Australia last Thursday, raking in an estimated $2.156 million.

The movie, which is based on British novelist JK Rowling's first book of the four already
published in her series, is showing on the greatest number of cinema screens ever, with
476 prints of the film available across Australia.

In the US, Harry Potter raked in $US82.4 million ($A159.3 million) in just five days
during the Thanksgiving holiday.

AAP rk/jjs/mg/sb

KEYWORD: POTTER

2001 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.