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CNN Live At Daybreak
"Harry Potter" Opens Today
Aired November 16, 2001 - 06:06 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CATHERINE CALLAWAY, CNN ANCHOR: I think just about everyone knows by now that there's a new movie out today -- a very big one called "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone". In fact, some theaters around the nation began showing that movie at midnight last night. Some theaters already selling out. We're going to hear now from CNN's Jodi Ross who's standing by at a movie theater in Manhattan.
Jodi, first have you seen the movie yet?
JODI ROSS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, I have seen the movie Catherine.
CALLAWAY: What did you think?
ROSS: And I don't think I should say anything about it yet because I don't want to ruin it for anybody. But it's definitely something to look at. It's definitely something very fascinating -- very magical about it. The book has been turned into a film, and I think fans will be very happy, of course, there avid and devoted readers of the book who now are quite excited about the movie, and they've been waiting a long time to see this one.
The film is going to show today on more than 3600 screens nationwide. Now that's a record-breaking number. Here at this theater that we're at, it will show on five of the 14 screens and it'll run about every 20 minutes beginning at 8:40 this morning. The movie is based on the book by J.K. Rowlings, of course, the author who wrote seven different novels.
This is the first one to be adapted to a film, but they are planning on probably making at least two more. As a matter of fact, the second film's already in production and it's supposed to be released around this time in 2002. The star of the movie is a young boy, a 12-year old boy named Daniel Radcliffe -- if you don't know his name now, you will by later today. I spoke with members of the cast starting with him, and he told me that winning the role left him in tears.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DANIEL RADCLIFFE: With this part, I've been given a fantastic opportunity to be able to inspire people and I think that's one of the things that made me cry. CHRIS COLUMBUS: I said three things to the studio when I met with him. We need to shoot it all in England, has to be an all- British cast, no exceptions, and we need to remain as true and faithful to the book as possible.
RICHARD HARRIS: My granddaughter heard that I was doubtful, so she called me up and said papa if you don't play Dumbledore, I'll never speak to you again. So that was it -- she's a fanatic.
ROBBIE COLTRANE: I saw it twice now, yeah. I saw it with my son. That was -- that was the most rewarded. He lent over half way and went you're very good dad.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROSS: All of the actors in this movie and anyone connected with it said that their children or grandchildren had something to do with them taking the role because the book is so beloved by children, but adults alike. Expectations for the film are so very high. Last week in the U.K. in sneak previews the movie made more than $5 million, and that was just in two days.
So they're talking about maybe breaking $100 million this weekend. That would be high, but it certainly will get up there. It's probably one for the record books. It's still early to tell, but that's what we're thinking at this point.
And reporting live from New York, back to you guys.
CALLAWAY: One hundred million in one weekend. Now it takes a lot to get people into a movie theater in the middle of the night. Were they -- were they packed last night or, you know, what kind of crowds did you see overnight?
ROSS: You know Catherine, I have to say that the people have been waiting so long for this movie, this to them is like waiting to see, you know, a Bruce Springsteen show or any other rock concert. They wait in line. They bought their tickets in advance -- actually advanced ticket sales have also broken records. So everybody already has tickets in hand.
What they wanted last night were good seats, and that's probably what they're going to want today. So we expect to see people very soon.
CALLAWAY: All right, CNN's Jodi Ross in Manhattan. Thanks Jodi.
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