The Most Successful Movie Franchise of All Time

The most successful movie franchise of all time is no longer James Bond, it's now the "Harry Potter" series, which recently edged out James Bond.

According to Box Office Mojo, the first six adaptations of J.K. Rowling's beloved books have earned a staggering $5.4 billion worldwide.

The 22 films considered part of the official Bond canon have earned an estimated $5 billion globally.

Still, Bond is certainly Hollywood's greatest franchise in terms of endurance and longevity. Since the first Bond adventure, "Dr. No" in 1962, it has thrived for 48 years, although the 23rd Bond picture is reportedly on hold for now.

Bond may need to stick around awhile to have any chance of overtaking Potter.

"Star Wars" movies have earned $4.2 billion, coming third.**

Harry Potter Author Accused Of Plagiarism

The successful author of the Harry Potter series, J.K. Rowling, has been added to the 2004 suit against her British publisher Bloomsbury, which states that Rowling stole ideas from another publication.

They claim that "Harry Potter And the Goblet of Fire," or as us females know it as, "the movie that Robert Pattinson was in," was stolen from a 1987 children's novel called "The Adventures of Willy the Wizard: No. 1 Livid Land," by Adrian Jacobs.

According to EOnline, Rowling states, "the fact is I had never heard of the author or the book before the first accusation by those connected to the author's estate in 2004; I have certainly never read the book."

She adds, "the claims that are made are not only unfounded but absurd and I am disappointed that I, and my U.K. publisher Bloomsbury, are put in a position to have to defend ourselves."

Crazy Newz: Twelve Awful Celebrity Tattoos

Why would anyone want to get Britney's worst phase permanently on their skin?Luckily for Britney,hair grows back,unfortunately for the owner of this tattoo.

Nixon Tattoo

This tattoo of Pope John Paul II looks so real that it got first prize in a Brazilian Tattoo Convention.

Out of all the stupid things this guy could have had tattooed on himself,he decided to go with Frank Zappa picking his nose.

The ultimate science tattoo: Jack Newton,23,decided to have his right leg inked with theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking's face after reading his best selling book.

 

Apparently, celebrity tattoos are for amateurs.Real fandom means tattooing a celebrity's adopted offspring in a prominent and permanent place of one's body.Andy Bowling,a 42 year old Texan man,has got both Brad and Maddox tattooed on his body.

Tattoo of Henry David Thoreau sitting on a pumpkin,surrounded by his famous pronouncement.

This person has Harry Potter portrayed on his limb.

This guy grew up watching Bob Ross with his Grandmother.After she passed away he got this as a funny reminder of their time together.How Sweet!!!

I bet Madonna would love to see this tattoo.

We know everybody loves Oprah,but this tattoo is far off the limits.

Pretty Girl+Hope Poster+Tattoo = Don't think it's a very nice combination at all.

Harry Potter Theme Park in the Works

"The Wizarding World of Harry Potter" is a new theme park opening in Spring 2010 at Universal Orlando Resort, and will probably be the closest we'll ever come to Hogwarts. Featured ride "Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey" (named by J.K Rowling herself) will take patrons through scenes and rooms made to look like Hogwarts Castle. The entrance to the park will look like a station archway named for Hogsmeade, and a whistle and plume of steam will indicate the arrival of Hogwarts Express.

Other rides modeled after parts of the books will include the roller coasters "Dragon Challenge" and "Flight of the Hippogriff." There will also be Potter-themed shops such as Honeydukes, Ollivander's, and Zonko's which will all sell items from the stories such as chocolate frogs, magic wands, and Sneakoscopes. Dervish and Banges will sell instruments and Quidditch equipment, and guests can send letters at the Owl Post. The Three Broomsticks will even serve Butterbeer.

The design team for the park has made several trips to London to consult with author J.K Rowling, and art and set directors from the films were hired to translate the movies into the park. There could even be new footage of Potter stars shot on actual sets from "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" and "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince."

PCM Movie Review: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

As the sixth installment of the Harry Potter series rolled out in theaters it could not help but to make a bang at the box offices everywhere. In the film's midnight showing, it racked in $22.2 million knocking The Dark Knight out of the top spot, and with good reason.

This chapter in the series takes a different tone compared to the other films. This year, the Hogwarts students are embracing adolescence, with a movie full of love, angst, and longing. We get to see a whole new side to the characters. Also, all this romance leads to the most comedic moments yet to be in a Harry film. If it's the action sequences you are looking forward to, you might not want to get over excited. This installment definitely cut back on the action and put the social surrounding of the main characters first.

Though the film is excellent, as a fan of the Harry Potter books, I was a bit disappointed in the lack of the acknowledgment of two aspects of this book. One, the real, in-depth look into Voldemort's past and the path he took to becoming the Dark Lord. The second would be the real mental assurance that Harry and Ginny are meant to be and will be forever. Considering it was 2 hr. 45 mins., I know they squeezed in all they could in the alotted time. I do appreciate the light-heartedness the movie presented in this film as Harry heads to his destiny and the final showdown with Voldemort begins. The next two films are sure to be the best yet.