Harry Potter Has 'Hallowed' Midnight Launch

NOV 20, 2010 - Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 conjured a franchise high in its midnight opening in North America, drawing an estimated US$24 million at around 3,700 locations. It eclipsed the last movie, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, which had a US$22.2 million midnight launch at 3,003 locations. It also doubled Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix's US$12 million midnight and nearly quadrupled Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire's US$6.3 million.

The Twilight series maintained its midnight dominance: The Twilight Saga: Eclipse is the all time benchmark with a touch over US$30 million at 4,000 sites, while The Twilight Saga: New Moon delivered US$26.3 million at 3,514 sites last year on the same early Friday period as Deathly Hallows Part 1. The Dark Knight, which still holds the opening weekend record with $158.4 million, racked up US$18.5 million at 3,040 sites in its midnight launch. - Boxofficemojo