"Potter" packs a global punch at box offices

A scene from 'Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix' in an image courtesy of Warner Bros. ［Reuters］

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) -"Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" conjured up $333 million at global box offices in its initial release, marking the best worldwide debut ever for the British boy wizard, according to final studio figures on Monday.

The fifth film in the series of smash hit movies raked in $193 million in 44 international territories and was No. 1 in every market in which it opened, said the Warner Bros. studio.

In the U.S. and Canada, the final box office tally was $77.1 million for the weekend and $139.7 million for the first five days starting last week with Wednesday's debut. Final U.S. and Canadian numbers were slightly below Sunday's estimates.

Overseas, final "Harry Potter" numbers were higher than Sunday's estimates, and the movie marked the biggest opening ever for Warner Bros Pictures International, the company said.

Warner Bros. is a unit of Time Warner Inc..

Based on the best-selling books by British author J.K. Rowling, the "Harry Potter" movies have become major blockbusters. The first four movies combined have sold roughly $3.5 billion worth of tickets worldwide.