'Potter' earns $58.4M on opening day

LOS ANGELES, July 16 (UPI) -- "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince," the sixth film in the iconic film franchise, conjured up $22.2 million from U.S. midnight screenings Wednesday.

Variety.com said the movie's initial box office take eclipsed the $18 million midnight domestic record set last summer by the "Batman Begins" sequel, "The Dark Knight."

"Prince" reportedly racked up $58.4 million in ticket sales for its opening day total, including the midnight screenings.

The entertainment industry trade newspaper suggested one reason the midnight crowds were so big this week was because "Potter" devotees who grew up with the books and films are now teens who flock to late-night movie openings. It has also been about two years since the fifth film, "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix," hit theaters, so fans might have been eager to see the beloved young wizards again.

"Phoenix" grossed $646.2 million internationally and $292 million domestically, Variety.com said.