Time flies by.
In the blink of an eye, December 15, 2000, arrived, and "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" was released in North America.
The film opened in over 2,700 theaters, ranking 4th in screen count in America that day.
The film with the highest screen count and number of screenings that day was the simultaneously released "someone like you." Thanks to its production and distribution company, Paramount Pictures, it secured an opening of over 3,300 theaters.
This was about 100 theaters fewer than the projected 3,400.
But, so what?
Who else could be #1 in screen count?!
The second highest screen count went to "The Family Man," released three days prior by Universal Pictures, with a cumulative box office of $15 million and 2,850 theaters that day.
The third highest screen count went to "Vertical Limit," released on the 8th of this month by Sony Columbia, with a cumulative box office of $30 million and 2,760 theaters that day.
"Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone," with a production cost of $125 million and marketing expenses of $100 million, could only settle for 4th place in screen count that day.
It wasn't that Page Pictures wasn't capable, but that the opponents were just too strong!
Buddy, the companies taking the top three spots in screen count were Paramount Pictures, Universal Pictures, and Sony Columbia—aren't they all part of The Big Six of Hollywood?
Excluding the top-ranked "someone like you," the remaining films, "The Family Man" and "Vertical Limit," didn't have significantly higher screen counts than Page Pictures' "Harry Potter." In fact, looking at box office potential, Kyle was confident he could crush "The Family Man" and "Vertical Limit."
"someone like you," produced by Paramount and released at the same time, was definitely not to be underestimated.
"Although I don't remember the exact final box office figures for the film, I vaguely recall that in the original timeline, it was among the top 5 at the North American box office that year."
"Which means its North American box office performance won't be lower than $160 million."
Kyle thought to himself.
But... would Kyle be afraid?
Of course not!
Buddy,
This is the "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" movie! Plus, it had already proven itself in the British film market, demonstrating its potential to be a massive hit!
Going head-to-head, Kyle wasn't backing down!
...
"Not backing down? Then let's compare our hard strength!"
Redstone laughed, "A mere 'Harry Potter' movie—even if it could take the annual box office championship in Britain, that doesn't prove anything. Don't forget, this is America! And we are Paramount!"
In his words, Redstone was full of dominance.
The 70-something-year-old Redstone was always full of drive.
Not to mention going head-to-head with a movie, in his rich life experience, he had gone bankrupt three times and lost everything, but he never gave up. Starting over at 50 to build such a fortune, he didn't know what fear was.
"Yes, boss." His subordinates nodded in agreement.
Meanwhile, Paramount Pictures President Sherry Lansing was also fearless.
As a woman, what did she rely on to become a controller of one of The Big Six of Hollywood?
—It must be a strong heart, a heart far superior to most men!
"Mel, do you have confidence in your movie?" Sherry Lansing turned her gaze to the man sitting on the sofa.
"Of course! I never lack confidence." The man replied.
His name was Mel Gibson, a current A-list actor in Hollywood, one of the few men who could carry a box office alone. He was also the male lead of the movie "someone like you."
The movie "someone like you" had another name— "What Women Want."
The film tells the story of the protagonist Nick (played by Mel Gibson), a manager at an advertising firm in Chicago who believes he has infinite charm and is loved by women, but finds his overbearing female boss Darcy (played by Helen Hunt) difficult to handle.
Suddenly one day, he develops a special ability.
Mind reading!
Nick can easily see into women's thoughts, and thus, a wonderful story unfolds.
In the original timeline, the film achieved a box office of $182 million in North America and $370 million globally, while breaking the box office record for Hollywood romantic comedies.
The production company, Paramount, made a huge profit from this.
Most importantly, the remake rights for the film were bought by 27 countries and regions around the world.
Undoubtedly, as a film released on December 15, Paramount's "someone like you" was one of the biggest competitors to Page Pictures' "Harry Potter."
What's more, "someone like you" had an opening of 3,300 theaters, ranking 1st in screen count that day.
...
Disney Group.
"The 'Harry Potter' movie? I know, it's a good movie, but so what?"
Known as the "Disney Tyrant," Disney Chairman Michael Eisner sneered, "There are plenty of excellent movies in Hollywood every year, but not all of them can achieve high box office!"
In recent years, Michael Eisner had been busy with internal Disney struggles, making many foolish and almost absurd wrong decisions, but Disney's stock price still climbed steadily.
Having spent decades in Hollywood, he had rich experience in fighting.
"As long as we plan properly, we can smear an opponent's good movie until it's ruined."
"Kyle Page?"
"Heh, since my previous wrong decision already offended him, then I might as well offend him to the end and directly crush 'Harry Potter'."
On December 15, besides "Harry Potter" and "someone like you," Disney also had a new film released.
"The Emperor's New Groove" is an animated film!
It was created by Disney Animation over three years, with over 300 staff members involved throughout. The production cost alone was as high as $100 million, and it was also the first computer-animated feature film Disney Animation started after putting down the glory of its past hand-drawn animation.
At the same time, the completion of this animated film had technical support from Pixar Animation.
For Disney Animation, it was definitely a film with special significance and mission.
"It will announce to the world that Disney Animation is back!"
This was the promotional slogan Michael Eisner used for the animated film "The Emperor's New Groove."
...
The wrestling between Page Pictures, Paramount Pictures, and Disney Group today would, in a sense, determine the hegemony of the 2000 Christmas season.
Well, most industry insiders believed: "Paramount Pictures' 'someone like you' will be the biggest winner!"
But... the result shocked everyone!
On the 15th, just past noon, "Harry Potter" achieved the highest box office of the day, despite being 4th in screen count.
The simultaneously released "someone like you" and "The Emperor's New Groove" were both trampled underfoot by "Harry Potter."
Films released in the previous days, like Sony Columbia's "Vertical Limit" and Universal Pictures' "The Family Man," were also left far behind.
"What?"
"My God! Is this for real?"
Many people saw that "Harry Potter" had achieved the #1 box office spot by just past noon, and were filled with disbelief.