Harry Potter becomes the top film for 2011

Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows – Part 2 has become the highest grossing film of 2011.

The final film in the boy wizard franchise, starring Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint, has made the most money for the year so far in all three box office categories: domestic, international and worldwide, Warner Bros has announced.

The seventh Harry Potter film, which has been open for less than a month, had grossed a total of US$1.146 billion as of August 8, making it the third highest grossing film of all time behind James Cameron’s Avatar and Titanic.

Dan Fellman, president of domestic distribution at Warner Bros, said: “This is another incredible milestone for the last chapter of this historic film series, and for the Harry Potter franchise as a whole. In a crowded and very competitive summer, it is a tribute to both the film and the people behind it that moviegoers are still turning out to enjoy it – whether for the first time or for a repeat viewing.”

The film, which already smashed records for takings in its opening weekend, is still showing at cinemas, giving it time to surpass Avatar, which took US$1.859 billion at the box office, and the US$1.843 billion worldwide record set by 1997’s Titanic.