June 23, 2003
Harry Potter sales on the movie blockbuster level.
J.K. Rowling pretty much redefined the economics of the book publishing business this weekend. With over 5 million copies sold, and 8 million total sales projected within the first week, it is the first book to take in an amount of money normally associated with the initial weekend of hit movies. Well over $100 million, by my calculations. (8 million, the first print run total, at $30 is like $240 million.) Unbelievable. Certainly is an inspiration to writers and artists of all types everywhere.
The
NY Times reports.
The new novel in the Harry Potter series set a staggering sales record as fans bought about five million copies by the end of its first day on sale Saturday, according to its United States publisher, Scholastic. That is nearly twice as many as the estimated sales in 12 months of last year's best-selling novel in hardcover, "The Summons," by John Grisham.
Booksellers said the first-day sales of "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix," by J. K. Rowling, had exceeded their expectations, although many stores still had copies in stock yesterday afternoon.
Stephen Riggio, chief executive of Barnes & Noble, the largest bookseller in the country, said the book business had upstaged even Hollywood. The five million copies sold, at retail prices from $17 to $30, surpassed the first weekend's box office for the latest blockbuster movie, "Hulk," which sold $62.6 million in tickets in its three-day opening weekend.
I haven't read any of the books yet though. Nor have I seen any of the Lord of the Rings movies. Some things you just want to save and savor. Besides, what if something happens and she doesn't get to finish it, and I never find out how it turns out. I couldn't take it. :)
