LADYDRAGON.COM - "Harry Potter'' Soars to Record-Shattering Box Office Heights, Becoming the Number Two Film of All Time

Monday February 18, 2002

"Harry Potter'' Soars to Record-Shattering Box Office Heights, Becoming the Number Two Film of All Time

Warner Bros. Pictures' worldwide blockbuster and Academy Award-nominated film "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" (also known as "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" in many territories outside the U.S.) has once again made motion picture history, earning the distinction as the second-highest grossing film of all time.

The combined domestic and international box office for "Harry Potter" has reached $926.1 million, eclipsing the previous record of $922.8 million held by "Star Wars: Episode 1 -- The Phantom Menace." The announcement was made today by Alan Horn, President and Chief Operating Officer, Warner Bros.

"This is a remarkable achievement," Horn said. "The making, marketing and distribution of 'Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone' has been a truly collaborative effort, from J.K. Rowling to the filmmakers to everyone involved in the process of bringing the magic and integrity of the novel to theaters worldwide. We're extremely proud that audiences around the globe have embraced 'Harry Potter' so enthusiastically, and we thank all of the fans for their passion and support."

Warner Bros. Pictures presents a Heyday Films/1492 Pictures/Duncan Henderson Production of a Chris Columbus film, "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone," starring Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, John Cleese, Robbie Coltrane, Warwick Davis, Richard Griffiths, Richard Harris, Ian Hart, John Hurt, Alan Rickman, Fiona Shaw, Maggie Smith and Julie Walters. Directed by Chris Columbus from a screenplay by Steve Kloves, based on the acclaimed novel "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" by J.K. Rowling, the film is produced by David Heyman. Chris Columbus, Mark Radcliffe, Michael Barnathan and Duncan Henderson are the executive producers. John Seale is the director of photography; Stuart Craig is the production designer; Richard Francis-Bruce is the editor; and John Williams is the composer.

This film has been rated "PG" by the Motion Picture Association of America for "some scary moments and mild language."

"Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" is distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, an AOL Time Warner Company.