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Harry Potter Fans are Rabid, Break Box Office Records
After die-hard fans in Southern California camped out for days, the final "Harry Potter" movie did not disappoint studio executives, reports Forbes. Grossing $43.5 million, the film became the highest-earning midnight debut ever. Wizards beat vampires in the epic showdown, with "Harry Potter" out-grossing "Twilight"'s midnight debut by over $13 million.
Since the film's release, sales have continued to soar: Reuters notes that international box office sales hit $82.5 million in two days, and that estimates put global sales so far at $126 million.
The movie with the highest gross during its opening weekend is currently "The Dark Knight," the 2008 Batman movie that earned $158.4 million during its first three days of showing.