World Scene: United States

Potter film shatters record

Harry Potter cast a spell over moviegoers worldwide as the sixth entry in the fantasy franchise set a new opening record of $396.7 million, a clear sign that the franchise has lost none of its magic.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince earned $159.7 million in the United States and Canada, the sixth-biggest opening for a five-day period, distributor Warner Bros. Pictures said on Sunday. The international component stands at $237 million, also a record. The old records were held by Spider-Man 3 in 2007 when its global bow of $381.7 million included foreign sales of $230.5 million. In North America, the new film outpaced its predecessor, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, which opened to $139.7 million two years ago.