娱乐英语新闻:Harry Potter finale rakes in whopping $1 bln worldwide

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 1 (Xinhua) -- "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2," the eighth and finale of the Harry Potter movies, is generating huge revenue while continuing its screening worldwide, distributor Warner Bros. announced Monday.

The film has already raked in more than one billion U.S. dollars at box offices worldwide, becoming the first in the series, and the ninth film in cinema history to reach that benchmark on Sunday -- seventeen days after being released in North America as well as most international markets,the Burbank, California-based studio said in a statement.

It also became the top-grossing film in Warner Bros.' history, with a total global revenue of about 1.008 billion dollars, including an estimated318.46 million dollars from domestic market and 690 million dollars abroad.

(L to R) Producer David Heyman, actor Daniel Radcliffe, author J.K. Rowling, actress Emma Watson, screenwriter Steve Kloves, actor Rupert Grint and director David Yates pose pose during the global premiere of Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows: Part 2, the last film of the series, at Trafalgar Square in London, Britain, July 7, 2011.

"What's truly astounding is that these kinds of numbers are being achieved so early in the film's release," Warner Bros. Pictures President of Domestic Distribution Dan Fellman said. "The movie's excellent reviews, outstanding word-of-mouth and repeat business will ensure that Harry Potter will be charming moviegoers for months to come."

As of Sunday, the film has successfully held its number one spot at the world box office for three consecutive weeks, during which it took in 66.6 million dollars from 14,500 screens in 60 locations.

With Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson reprising their roles as Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, respectively, the finale features an apocalyptic showdown between good and evil forces in the imaginary world of wizards.