‘Transformers 2′ Smashes Wednesday Record

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is no longer the record holder for the largest Wednesday opening of all time. That’s because Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen racked up a smashing $60.6 million opening day (including $16 million from Tuesday midnights). That’s a full 37% above Order of the Phoenix’s opening Wednesday.

Paramount Studios picked an excellent release date by taking advantage of a summer market that is currently being dominated by comedies and hasn’t seen an action blockbuster since Terminator Salvation launched over a month ago. Credit also goes to the original Transformers which was generally well-received by moviegoers in 2007 and then expanded its audience with a very lucrative home market run.

Where Transformers 2 goes from here largely depends on its Thursday performance. Looking at other similar Wednesday blockbusters points to a Wed-to-Thurs drop-off of anywhere between 50-65%. Order of the Phoenix, for example, dropped 58% on Thursday after a very similar midnight to opening day ratio as Transformers 2. If the Michael Bay helmed film follows the same pattern, then Thursday would chime in with about $25 million followed by $105 million over the weekend. That would be a five day start of $190 million, which is not far behind The Dark Knight’s pace. If Thursday is even just a million or two higher, then that record may fall to this sci-fi action film as well.

The Harry Potter franchise does have a chance to swipe the record right back with the release of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince on Wednesday, July 15.

Box Office Data Sources: Box Office Mojo and The Numbers

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