Potter loses ground to Captain America

After celebrating the largest opening weekend of all time, pulling in a domestic take of over $169 million and currently standard at over $240 million domestically and over $452 million overseas, bringing their first week total to just under $700 million, no one expected Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2, to continue at its record-shattering pace.

But not many necessarily expected the boy wizard’s swan song to be bested by Captain America, either. Yet that is the pattern that seems to be developing this weekend. On Friday, Captain America opened well, raking in $25.7 million on its first day of business; meanwhile, the Harry Potter finale drew only $14.6 million

An even more distant third is the Justin Timberlake-Mila Kunis vehicle, Friends With Benefits, which $6.8 million and seems likely to be the only other film this weekend to break the $10 million barrier.

It’ll get even more competitive for Potter next weekend, when the trifecta of Cowboys and Aliens, The Smurfs and Crazy Stupid Love all open to close out July.

The whole summer is full of watchable movies this year, and makes me wish I had some Kmart coupons for the upcoming and inevitable Blu-Ray releases this winter. That would certainly take the edge off what seems destined to be a robust period for good movies once the snow begins piling up outside.