HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER'S STONE Surpasses $1 Billion Worldwide Box Office After Re-release in China

Kapanlagi.com - Two decades have passed since HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER'S STONE premiered in cinemas. The first film of this famous franchise has finally surpassed $1 billion at the worldwide box office. This new record in its release history was achieved thanks to its re-release in IMAX 3D screens in China.

According to VARIETY.com last weekend, HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER'S STONE topped the box office charts in China and managed to gather $13.6 million from 16 thousand screens. Even the film adaptation of J.K.Rowling's novel has already earned $1.001 billion. With this success, the first Harry Potter series became the second film to reach the billion-dollar mark.

However, not to be outdone by its predecessor, HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS - PART 2 had already earned its profits much earlier. The final film in the HARRY POTTER series garnered $1.34 billion from cinemas worldwide in 2011. When totaled, this serial film has already raked in $7.74 billion at the box office. Warner Bros. itself had bought the rights to this film at a cheap price before the novel exploded in the market.

“We are very happy to see HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER'S STONE entertaining a new generation of viewers,” said Andrew Cripps, head of international distribution at Warner Bros. Pictures. "The film's popularity among Chinese cinema-goers who saw a film like this for the first time proves that the allure of this story is truly timeless and universal," he added.

The achievement of the film HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER'S STONE itself has been evident since its release in 2001. Directed by Chris Columbus, this film managed to set a record of $974 million in ticket sales during its initial screening.

The film, which introduced young stars like Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint, initially did not screen in Chinese cinemas until January 2002, a year when China had not yet become the world's second-largest cinema market.

Writer: Febby Novenda

(kpl/mag)