Harry Potter, the boy wizard of worldwide movie fame, has conjured up 66.56 million yuan (US$8.21 million) in China with his "Goblet of Fire" in just 10 days.
"Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire," the fourth film in the series that tells the magic stories of the pupils at Hogwarts school, is expected to become a box office leader in China.
"Without question, the box office will reach 80 million yuan (US$9.86 million), and quite possibly, 100 million (US$12.33 million)," said Weng Li, general manager of the film exhibition and distribution arm of the China Film Group, a Chinese distributor of the film.
The Hollywood blockbusters, "Star Wars Episode III" and "Mr. & Mrs. Smith," have taken in 75.42 million yuan (US$9.3 million) and 62 million yuan (US$7.64 million) respectively in China since this june.
No imported film has surpassed the 100 million yuan mark since 2002.
The "Goblet of Fire" generated an estimated US$408 million worldwide after just ten days in theatres, reported the film's distributor Warner Bros. on Sunday.
(Xinhua News Agency December 1, 2005)
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