AceShowbiz -

Becoming one of the most anticipated sequels this year, it's no wonder to see "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" already score such an impressive start in its opening day on the Tuesday (July 10) going on Wednesday (July 11) midnight screenings.

Screened in 2,311 theaters, the fifth installment in the popular franchise has amazingly garnered a large sum of $12 million during the showings, foreshadowing a huge first five days for the film. Pic opened fully Wednesday morning in 4,285 theaters, the second-widest ever trailing only "Pirates of the Caribbean: At Worlds End" (4,362).

In addition, "Phoenix" is playing digitally on 579 screens in 325 locations, more than any Warner Bros. Pictures movie to date while also becoming the largest digital cinema release to date for any titles coming from the company in the international market with over 750 screens. More to say, it had the largest number of day-and-date international openings of any film in the franchise, getting simultaneous releases in 44 territories worldwide also on Wednesday.

UPDATE 07/13/2007: By Wednesday, "Phoenix" has fantastically raked in an estimated $44.2 million, making it the the biggest Wednesday single-day gross in box-office history also the fifth-biggest opening day for a movie in history. Its IMAX version, in the meantime, grossed $1.9 million to become the highest opening day ever for any day of the week, surpassing "Spider-Man 3" take of $1.8 million.