Midnight Potter numbers

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Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix took in $12 million from last night's midnight shows, with a average of 5100 a print -- a sensational figure.

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Posted by Jeffrey Wells on July 11, 2007 at 1:33 PM

comment #1

Ian Sinclair says ...

I hope TRANSFORMERS enjoyed its five minutes.

Posted by Ian Sinclair at July 11, 2007 1:49 PM

comment #2

BNick says ...

That is a huge number.

Today could be even bigger, because it might be that not too many of the kids who grew up reading these books, i.e. 15 and under, would have been at the midnight shows (unless they have overly permissive parents) so the "sweet spot" demographic didn't necessarily even see the film last night.

Posted by BNick at July 11, 2007 1:51 PM

comment #3

David Ehrlich says ...

finally, a harry potter movie that got it right. the first episode to feel like a sincere narrative rather than a product, yates is also the first of the series' directors to fully employ the capacity of the cinematic medium as a unique means of storytelling (the organic menace of the opening sequences and the haunting, disturbingly unnatural presence of fiennes on the train platform, or even the 3-D for instance, though the last is an unfair advantage, though an advantage nonetheless). the result is a film that is not merely a rote adaptatin of a tedious novel, but a true re-imagining of the story and the first movie of the franchise that validates itself as more than a gussied up cash-cow. it seems as if yates, even more than rowling, understood the fiften chapter for what it is - a transitional episode that moves the series from a dream-like fantasyland and into an almost tangible world of palpable peril and genuine consequences. i fear that jeff's rabid confirmation bias precluded him from acknowledging the surprising success of yates' work. not only was this a first-rate blockbuster, but its many strengths also high-lighted the novel's many deficiencies, which is a definite plus for anyone who is somewhat baffled by pottermania (i.e. myself).

on an unrelated note, anyone in nyc needs to hit up the film forum by thursday to check out melville's le doulos on the big screen.

on a 2nd unrelated note, transformers was the worst and most insulting summer tent-pole film since independence day rather admirably ushered in the current era of the season's blockbusters.

Posted by David Ehrlich at July 11, 2007 2:03 PM

comment #4

Bocephus says ...

Saw it last night. It was okay, the weakest of the non-Columbus-directed Potter films (Columbus sucks goats). It worked well enough as a cliff notes refresher for Deathly Hallows, which is al I really expect from the movies.

I realy hope they find a director with a sense of inspiration and more creativity to handle the last two films. Cuaron was brilliant on Azkaban, I thought Newell did a pretty good job of bringing some humanity to Goblet, but Yates phoned in a total director-for-hire job on Order of the Phoenix and it really hurt the quality of the film.

Posted by Bocephus at July 11, 2007 2:05 PM

comment #5

Josh Massey says ...

Bocephus: Yates has already signed for Half Blood Prince.

Posted by Josh Massey at July 11, 2007 2:19 PM

comment #6

JTag says ...

I agree with David Ehrlich's review - first Potter movie to get it right. I saw it at the Uptown in DC last night, where I've seen the midnight showing for all five movies, and this one played the best of all of them. For me, it's the first one that got rid of all tedious subplots, moved along the story, and created a sleek movie that didn't feel choppy scene-to-scene. Book 5 is the only Potter book I've actually disliked so I was happy to see how they concentrated on making a good movie instead of a good throw-everything-in adaptation.

Posted by JTag at July 11, 2007 2:26 PM

comment #7

actionman says ...

Transformers had a $10 million Monday and an $8 million Tuesday. It's 5 minutes are hardly up. Even with Potter opening this weekend it's gonna clean up.

Posted by actionman at July 11, 2007 2:36 PM

comment #8

dre says ...

I thought it was very good, certainly top three, probably the second best after Azkaban. Yates is a solid director.

Posted by dre at July 11, 2007 2:41 PM

comment #9

Rothchild says ...

Ian, I love bullshit rivalries as much as the next guy. Hell, I hated our rival school in college just because we all dig competition and us vs. them conflicts that don't end in bloodshed or any sort of actual tragedy. But this isn't Transformers vs. Harry Potter. Both films will do very well. In fact, just tonight, they won't be coworks...they'll be copeople.

Posted by Rothchild at July 11, 2007 2:44 PM

comment #10

Rothchild says ...

Co-workers. Fuck.

Posted by Rothchild at July 11, 2007 2:47 PM

comment #11

christian says ...

"and the first movie of the franchise that validates itself as more than a gussied up cash-cow."

last time i checked a "franchise" was the definition of a gussied up cash cow.

i prefer movies to franchises.

Posted by christian at July 11, 2007 3:35 PM

comment #12

Hopscotch says ...

Haha, screwed that joke up rothchild. I'm an Office fan too.

Yeah, HP fans run akin to Star Wars fans. Even if they don't like the movie, they'll still see it four times. And I doubt people will see a rivalry between the two. Both should do well over $250M.

I was on the fence for awhile, but count me in for "The Simpsons Movie". I hope that squashes every thing it's path.

Posted by Hopscotch at July 11, 2007 3:37 PM

comment #13

nemo says ...

"... the worst and most insulting summer tent-pole film since independence day ..."

"Independence Day" -- boy, now there was a really stupid movie. It kills brain cells just thinking back on that movie.

Posted by nemo at July 11, 2007 3:55 PM

comment #14

nemo says ...

"Yates has already signed for Half Blood Prince."

What, you mean there's two more novels beyond the current movie? Daniel and Emma and Rupert are going to be 35 years old by the time they're finished filming this series.

Posted by nemo at July 11, 2007 4:01 PM

comment #15

Dan Revill says ...

I saw it this afternoon. Quite enjoyable. I'm hoping Yates knocks HBP out of the park though...and then bring back Cuaron to finish this series right.

Posted by Dan Revill at July 11, 2007 5:06 PM

comment #16