Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone Conjurs Box Office Magic With Record-shattering $93.5 Million Opening Weekend in North America and $23 Million Opening Period in the U.K

Business Wire, Nov 18, 2001

Entertainment Editors

BURBANK, Calif.--(ENTERTAINMENT WIRE)--Nov. 18, 2001

Harry Potter fans throughout North America and the U.K. flocked to movie theaters in record numbers to experience the magic of Warner Bros. Pictures' Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. Making motion picture history and shattering numerous industry records, the opening weekend domestic box office receipts for the highly anticipated feature adaptation of J.K. Rowling's acclaimed novel totaled an estimated $93.5 million, surpassing the record for the biggest consecutive three day domestic box office gross ever, as well as the record for the largest consecutive four day domestic box office gross ever. In the U.K., the film (titled Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone in the United Kingdom) earned an estimated $23 million in its opening period, breaking the record for the biggest opening box office cume in U.K. history. The announcement was made today by Alan Horn, President and Chief Operating Officer, Warner Bros.

"This is truly historic for Warner Bros. Pictures," Horn said. "Everyone involved in the making, marketing and distribution of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone took great care and effort to protect the integrity of the characters and the story so beautifully rendered by J.K. Rowling, and we couldn't be more proud to have debuted this picture to such an overwhelmingly positive response."

Earning an estimated $93.5 million in North America in its three day opening weekend, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone has broken the following box office records:

-- Largest consecutive three day domestic box office gross ever - previous
record held by Jurassic Park with $72.1 million.

-- Largest consecutive four day domestic box office gross ever - previous
record held by Jurassic Park with $90.1 million.

-- Largest November three day weekend - previous record held by Monsters, Inc.
with $62,577,067.

-- Largest non-holiday three day weekend - previous record held by Planet of
the Apes with $68,532,960.

-- Largest holiday weekend - previous record held by Toy Story 2 with
$57,388,839 million.

-- Largest Friday - previous record held by Planet of the Apes with
$24,611,888.

-- Largest Saturday - previous record held by The Mummy Returns with
$26,918,915.

-- Largest Sunday with a holiday Monday - previous record held by Jurassic Park
with $26,083,950.

-- Largest Sunday without a holiday Monday - previous record held by Star Wars:
Episode I - The Phantom Menace with $21,929,334.

-- Largest single day - previous record held by opening day for Star Wars:
Episode I with $28,542,349.

-- Largest three day opening of the year - previous record held by Planet of
the Apes with $68,532,960.

-- Chris Columbus' largest three day weekend - previous record held by Home
Alone 2: Lost in New York, which opened with $31,126,882.

"We're thrilled that the opening weekend box office for Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone exceeded even our highest expectations," said Dan Fellman, President, Domestic Distribution, Warner Bros. Pictures. "Audiences came out to see this film in unprecedented numbers, and we appreciate the enthusiasm, collaboration and support of our exhibitors nationwide."

In the U.K., the film (titled Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone in the United Kingdom) earned an estimated $23 million in its opening period, breaking the previous record set by Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace with $14.7 million for the biggest opening period in U.K. history.

"Given the enormous popularity of the novel in the United Kingdom, and the fact that the story is set in Britain, we're thrilled that audiences in the U.K. have embraced the film so wholeheartedly," said Veronika Kwan-Rubinek, President, International Distribution, Warner Bros. Pictures. "We thank the exhibitors for their unqualified support in bringing Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone to fans throughout the United Kingdom."

Warner Bros. Pictures presents a Heyday Films/1492 Pictures/Duncan Henderson Production of a Chris Columbus film, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, starring Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, John Cleese, Robbie Coltrane, Warwick Davis, Richard Griffiths, Richard Harris, Ian Hart, John Hurt, Alan Rickman, Fiona Shaw, Maggie Smith and Julie Walters. Directed by Chris Columbus from a screenplay by Steve Kloves, based on the acclaimed novel Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling, the film is produced by David Heyman. Chris Columbus, Mark Radcliffe, Michael Barnathan and Duncan Henderson are the executive producers. John Seale is the director of photography; Stuart Craig is the production designer; Richard Francis-Bruce is the editor; and John Williams is the composer.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, an AOL Time Warner Company.

This film has been rated "PG" by the Motion Picture Association of America for "some scary moments and mild language."