Media reports were quick to trumpet the news that Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince slipped to number two at domestic box office sales, with the new Disney film “G-Force” nabbing the top spot.  Variety reports however that HBP continues to do remarkably well both domestic and notably on the international front as the industry magazine reports: “Half-Blood Prince” remained the worldwide leader, earning a magical $84.4 million internationally for a total haul of $627.1 million. That’s the top pace for the “Potter” franchise. Domestic gross was an estimated $30 million from 4,325 runs.

The LA Times also points out that while HBP “declined 61%. 2007’s “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix,” which also opened on a Wednesday in July, fell 57.8% on its second weekend. As of Sunday, the total domestic gross for “Half-Blood Prince” was $221.8 million. Accounting for the 9% rise in ticket prices over the last two years, that puts it about $5 million behind “Order of the Phoenix” at the same point. The new movie does have one disadvantage, however: It’s playing at only four Imax locations, whereas “Order of the Phoenix” was at 91. The large-size screens carry higher ticket prices and tend to lose business at a slow pace.” The newspaper also reminds us that this week, Half-Blood Prince will indeed be opening on 162 IMAX screens.

Finally the newspaper says that HBP “cost $250 million to produce and about $155 million to market and distribute. Since studios keep about half of their films’ ticket sales, Warner Bros. is likely to break even on the theatrical run of “Half-Blood Prince” and profit handsomely on the DVD and in other markets.”