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Matthew Huntley: Although HP7's opening numbers are amazing, I can't say I'm impressed by them, at least not in our current cinematic climate where every franchise picture tries to one-up the last one by having a bigger opening weekend. Given that this is the penultimate film in a hugely popular, decade-old series, I expected greater numbers for all the reasons listed on this thread. I thought it would defeat New Moon for sure, but HP seems to be more front-loaded than the vampire flicks and I still don't think it's gained that many more fans since the original was released in 2001, as evidenced by David's inflation-adjusted figures. I agree the reason it may have done slightly better was because of a lack of competition, but I'd say the audience has mostly remained consistent these past nine years.

Edwin Davies: I am very impressed by this result because I thought that it would be closer to the 102.7 million that Goblet of Fire opened to back in 2005, rather than smashing that number by quite a way. I also thought that it might land a little lower because, although this film represents the start of the end of the Harry Potter story, it isn't the end. I thought that the lack of traditional action in the first part of the book might put off people who have read it from seeing Part One in the cinema, instead choosing to catch it on DVD in time for Part Two next July. Not enough people that the film would underperform in comparison to the rest of the series, but enough that it would remain on the same level as the previous entries. This result suggests that people are really champing at the bit to be a part of what is a considerable event in pop culture.

Shalimar Sahota: Well this opening is certainly better than where I thought it would finish (I was thinking somewhere between $95 - $105 million). As has already been mentioned, the whole it being the end of Potter has probably helped boost the total somewhat, as well as the preferred November release, with less competition compared to over the summer. For a franchise that began nearly a decade ago, it's remarkable to see that it can still reach high levels of box office and positive reviews. I'm more impressed with the $61.1 million earned on its opening day. It's huge, and not that far behind from the opening weekends of the last two films.

Michael Lynderey: This may sound obscene, but Harry Potter box office has been just so not interesting to me for some time now. There came a point after which this franchise's openings became fairly consistent, and thus repetetive, and thus, predictable. Yes, the Potter films have fluctuated here and there, but I think the only box office question left to ask of Mr. Potter is whether his eighth (?) installment can finally crack $400 million. Otherwise, this slightly bigger-than-average opening can be blamed on a regular Friday first day instead of the weekday blitz, combined with ticket price inflation, and dolloped in the sense of anticipation approaching July 2011.

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