Potter beats Bond in box-office take

BURBANK, Calif., Sept. 11 (UPI) -- Burbank's Warner Bros. Pictures said its Harry Potter series has grossed $4.47 billion, making it the most lucrative franchise in cinematic history.

The five Potter movies have even out-earned the popular James Bond franchise, which includes 22 features and has garnered $4.44 billion in ticket sales, the Hollywood Reporter said Tuesday.

"The appeal of the 'Harry Potter' movies knows no border, no age limit and no language barrier," Warners international distribution president Veronika Kwan-Rubinek told the trade paper.

With two more potential blockbusters on the way, the British boy wizard is on-track to conjure up hundreds of millions more for the U.S. film studio.

"It is amazing to think what heights the franchise could reach by the end of the decade," said Warners' domestic distribution president, Dan Fellman.

The six-film "Star Wars" franchise is the the third most-lucrative movie series, having earned $4.23 billion in worldwide box office receipts.