HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE earned $104 million in its first day of release worldwide, making it the best first 24 hours for franchise to date. The sixth POTTER film made $58.2 million in the U.S. alone.

Nearly 40% of HALF-BLOOD's first day receipt came via its record breaking $22.2 million earned during midnight showings.

This weekend the film will expand to 4,275 theaters in the U.S., making its worldwide theater count near 15,000 in 64 markets.

The film had the third-highest opening day in the U.K. ($7.6 million), the second highest in Italy ($4 million), the third highest in Australia ($4.4 million), the best Wednesday opening in Japan ($3.6 million), and the all-time best opening in Holland ($1.3 million).