Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince Triumphs With Record Breaking 5 day Opening Weekend of GBP19,784,925 in the UK

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince Triumphs With Record Breaking 5 day Opening Weekend of GBP19,784,925 in the UK

LONDON, July 20/PRNewswire/ -- Warner Bros. Pictures International UK made cinema history today. David
Yates' critically acclaimed 'Harry Potter and The Half Blood Prince' smashed
the record for the biggest five day opening weekend at the UK box office. The
film opened on Wednesday 15th July making GBP4.7 million on its first day -
the biggest ever Wednesday opening in the UK.

Josh Berger, President and Managing Director of Warner Bros.
Entertainment UK commented: "We are thrilled that Harry Potter and the Half
Blood Prince has achieved a GBP19,784,925 five day opening weekend which has
broken all box office records to date. It is just wonderful that this film
franchise filmed in Britain, starring a British cast and created by some of
the most talented British filmmakers, continues to be loved by the British
film-going audiences."

Producer David Heyman said, "We are so grateful to Jo Rowling,
whose books are the foundation of our success. We share this with our
remarkable team-director, writer, cast and crew-with whom I am privileged to
work every day and whose ambition for the films never ceases to amaze me.
Thanks also to our friends at Warner Bros. and especially to our countless
Harry Potter fans around the world for their support."

In the US too 'Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince' has
shattered two box office records, first breaking the record for a midnight
opening with US$22.2 million, eclipsing the studio's own record set last year
by 'The Dark Knight'. 'Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince' then flew past
the worldwide opening day box office record: with the domestic gross of
US$58.18 million and the international totals of US$45.85 million combining
for an astounding one-day global box office gross of more than US$104
million.

Alan Horn, President and Chief Operating Officer, Warner
Bros., stated, "Quite simply, we owe this record-breaking opening to the
remarkable fans who have stood by us and who stood in line to be among the
first to see 'Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.' We thank them again
for their patience and we hope they agree with us that the film was well
worth the wait."

Jeff Robinov, President of Warner Bros. Pictures Group, added,
"Everyone at Warner Bros. joins me in congratulating the cast and filmmakers
who have made another worthy addition to the amazing Harry Potter film
franchise and are already hard at work on the next film."

Sue Kroll, President of Worldwide Marketing, Warner Bros.
Pictures, remarked, "From our earliest screenings, the response to 'Harry
Potter and the Half-Blood Prince' has been overwhelming, and we have been
inspired by the enthusiasm generated by the film. As the movies have gotten
bigger and better, it has been a wonderful challenge to create bigger and
better marketing campaigns to excite Harry Potter fans and create new ones.
We are delighted that this latest film seems to have done both on a global
level."

Veronika Kwan-Rubinek, President of International Distribution
concluded: "We are so happy to share 'Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince'
with the fans and thrilled that they turned out in record numbers to see it.
With many countries yet to open, these already outstanding box office numbers
are another testament to the universal appeal of J.K. Rowling's stories and
the remarkable work of everyone behind the Harry Potter films."

In 'Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince', the Death Eaters
are wreaking havoc in both the Muggle and wizarding worlds and Hogwarts is no
longer the safe haven it once was. Harry suspects that new dangers may lie
within the castle, but Dumbledore is more intent upon preparing him for the
final battle that he knows is fast approaching. He needs Harry to help him
uncover a vital key to unlocking Voldemort's defenses. Meanwhile, the
students are under attack from a very different adversary, as teenage
hormones rage across the ramparts. Love is in the air, but tragedy lies ahead
and Hogwarts may never be the same again.

Warner Bros. Pictures presents a Heyday Films production,
'Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince', the sixth installment of Warner
Bros. Pictures' Harry Potter film franchise. Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint
and Emma Watson return in the roles of Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione
Granger. The film also stars Helena Bonham Carter, Jim Broadbent, Robbie
Coltrane, Michael Gambon, Alan Rickman, Maggie Smith, Timothy Spall, David
Thewlis, Warwick Davis, Tom Felton, Helen McCrory, Julie Walters and Bonnie
Wright.

'Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince' is directed by David
Yates from a screenplay by Steve Kloves, based on the novel by J.K. Rowling.
David Heyman and David Barron produced the film, with Lionel Wigram serving
as executive producer and John Trehy co-producing.

'Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince' is being distributed worldwide
by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.

'Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince': An IMAX 3D
Experience-digitally re-mastered into the unparalleled image and sound
quality of The IMAX Experience(R) through proprietary IMAX DMR(R)
technology-is being released by Warner Bros. Pictures in select theatres in
Los Angeles, New York and Chicago concurrently with the nationwide 35mm
release in traditional theatres. The film will open nationwide in IMAX on
July 29th. Using IMAX's revolutionary live action 2D to 3D conversion
technology, the movie's opening sequence has been transformed into IMAX 3D.
The film will also be shown completely in IMAX 2D in select locations without
IMAX(R) 3D capability.

Notes to Editors:

- Biggest ever opening incl. previews - Harry Potter and the Prisoner of
Azkaban GBP23,882,688

- Biggest ever 3 day opening - Quantum of Solace - GBP15,384,217

- Harry Potter and The Philosophers Stone - Three day opening weekend
- GBP9,600,368

- Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets - Three day opening weekend -
GBP10,259,328

- Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkaban - Three day opening weekend -
GBP9,508,349

- Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire - Three day opening weekend -
GBP14,903,710

- Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - Three day opening weekend -
GBP13,007,909

Images are available on http://www.Image.net

Source: Warner Bros Entertainment UK Ltd

For additional information, please contact: Louisa Radcliffe / Stuart Gurr, +44(0)207-984-5200, Louisa.radcliffe@warnerbros.com / Stuart.gurr@warnerbros.com

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