LOS ANGELES, July 15, 2011 (AFP) – The final installment of the Harry Potter films cast a spell over North America Friday raking in an estimated record $43.5 million at its opening midnight showing, Variety magazine said.

“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2,†the action-packed finale to one of the most successful movie franchises of all time.
“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2,†the action-packed finale to one of the most successful movie franchises of all time, opened in North America cinemas Friday with a special midnight screening.
The film sees boy wizard Potter take on the evil Lord Voldemort in a climactic showdown, the second of two movies based on the seventh and final Potter book by British author J. K. Rowling.
It shot past “The Twilight Saga – Eclipse,†the third in a successful series about teen vampires and werewolves which took in $30 million at its opening midnight screening.
Hollywood is now waiting to see whether Potter, and his wizarding friends, can set a new all-time opening weekend record, and beat current record holder superhero Batman into second place.
“The Dark Knight,†the last of Batman’s film adventures, hauled in $158 million on its opening weekend in 2008.