Second “Harry Potter” Is Movie Magic Hit

Opening day for the second “Harry Potter” film produced more movie magic for its distributor Warner Brothers. Taking in an estimated 28.6 million dollars the film is expected to approach but not surpass the more than 90 million dollar debut weekend gross of its predecessor. “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets” in its opening Friday was about eleven percent below the first-day revenue last year of “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer´s Stone.”

Warner Brothers head of districution Dan Fellman said, “We´re a little bit under that, but we´re still going to be in the stratosphere.” “Chamber of Secrets” again stars Daniel Radcliffe as Harry and Emma Watson and Rupert Grint as his chums at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The adult cast again includes British actor Richard Harris, who died last month.

Armed with strong reviews for the newest tale Warner Brothers hopes the second “Harry Potter” film can eventually exceed the 317 million dollar total gross of “Sorcerer´s Stone.” The opening weekend of the first “Harry Potter” film last year was later surpassed by the more than 114 (M) million dollar debut of “Spider-Man” over three days. “Spider-Man” also holds the top two spots for a single day with more than 43 million and 39 million dollars. It is followed by the first two days of “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer´s Stone.”