MANILA, Nov. 22, 2016 – Magical creatures, new heroes to root for and a jaw-dropping big reveal lured audiences back to a new era of magic.
The wizarding world of Harry Potter triumphantly returned to Philippine cinemas as Warner Bros.’ “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” opened at No.1 with a spellbinding P126.42-million in only four days for the Nov. 17-20 frame. This was announced today by Francis Soliven, General Manager of Warner Bros. Philippines.
The Harry Potter spinoff posted the Biggest November Opening Weekend for a Warner Bros. Film All-Time surpassing 2005’s “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire’s” P105-million bow.
The solid opening of “Fantastic Beasts” has launched a new franchise for Warner, justifying an expansion of the series into five films. Reviews are generally positive.
In the U.S., “Fantastic Beasts” debuted to a boisterous $75 million, and likewise got off to a roaring start at the international box office, taking in $143.3 million for a global total of $218.3 million.
Next weekend will see big launches in the key markets of China and Japan. A projection towards the $800M mark seems possible if it holds up moderately well in coming weeks.
Back in the Philippines, top-grossing cinemas are led by SM Megamall (P5.56-M), SM Mall of Asia (P5.28-M) and SM North EDSA (P4.99-M).
They are followed by Trinoma (P4.22-M), Power Plant (P3.34-M), Greenbelt 3 (P3.17-M), Glorietta 4 (P2.44-M), SM Cebu (P2.33-M), Alabang Town Center (P2.23-M) and Shang Cineplex (P2.20-M).
Performing significantly well are Ayala Cebu (P2.13-M), Greenhills Theatremall (P2.08-M), SM Ilo-ilo (P2.06-M), SM Aura (P2.04-M), Gateway (P1.96-M), U.P. Town Center (P1.94-M), Uptown (P1.91-M), Bonifacio High Street (P1.87-M), Eastwood (P1.79-M) and SM Bacolod (P1.59-M) .
“Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” takes us to a new era of J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World, decades before Harry Potter and half a world away.
Academy Award winner Eddie Redmayne (“The Theory of Everything,” “The Danish Girl”) stars in the central role of Magizoologist Newt Scamander, under the direction of David Yates, who helmed the last four “Harry Potter” blockbusters.
“Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” opens in 1926 as Newt Scamander has just completed a global excursion to find and document an extraordinary array of magical creatures. Arriving in New York for a brief stopover, he might have come and gone without incident … were it not for a No-Maj (American for Muggle) named Jacob, a misplaced magical case, and the escape of some of Newt’s fantastic beasts, which could spell trouble for both the wizarding and No-Maj worlds.
“Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” is now playing nationwide in 2D and 3D in select theatres and IMAX, and is distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.
© 2016 Warner Bros. Ent. All Rights Reserved.
Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts Publishing Rights © JKR. (PR)
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