'Half-Blood Prince' Tops Box Office

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, the sixth movie of the "Potter" franchise, has dominated the North American box office.

According to Reuters, the film earned $159.7 million after five days of its July 15 release. It is now the sixth biggest five-day opening, but does not beat the winnings made by "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" during its first five days of release, which totaled $201 million.

Associated Press reports that, because the "Potter" franchise has come a long way since the release of the first film, 2001's "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone," the audience turnout has consisted of more elder teens. "Half-Blood Prince" is expected to reach $300 million, the first film of the franchise to do so since "Sorcerer's Stone."

In comparison, comedies "Bruno" and "The Hangover" competed at the box office, only to see "Bruno" reaching $49.5 million after 10 days of release next to "The Hangover's" $235 million after seven weekends, Entertainment Weekly reports.