Is Harry Potter officially the biggest film of all time

A.� The film has been number one at the box office in the UK and the States since it opened last month, but Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone may not beat the biggest film of all time, a record currently held by the James Cameron epic Titanic. And it will have to work hard to beat Star Wars: Episode One - The Phantom Menace, history's second biggest film.

�

Q.� How much money has it made

A.� The film suffered a 58 per cent fall in box office takings in American cinemas last weekend, but has already passed the $200 million (�140.5 million) barrier. It was the second fastest film to reach the mark, behind the Star Wars prequel, but it may not have the staying power of Titanic, which starred Kate Winslet and Leonardo di Caprio. The disaster epic made �1.23 billion in cinemas worldwide, with Star Wars: Episode One making �650.9 million. Warner Bros have launched a massive marketing push to attract audiences to the Boy Wizard in the States.

However, the film faces another challenge from the fantasy film: the Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring, which is released in Britain on December 19. It is the first in a three-part adaptation of the JRR Tolkien book, which is expected to attract huge audiences over the Christmas holiday.

�

Q.� Will Harry Potter be shown in other countries

A.� The studio has announced it will open the film in many foreign countries, which were the places that made Titanic the biggest film of all time.� It's not yet known whether it will be included in the Oscar nominations, which are announced in February. The video and DVD versions of Harry Potter will be released next summer. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets will be released in Britain next November.

�

For more film and television questions and answers, click here

�

by Katharine MacColl