Box Office: ‘Fantastic Beasts 3’ Opens to $6 Million in Thursday Previews

variety.com:

Brent Lang Executive Editor of Film and Media“Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore,” the latest attempt to expand J.K.

Rowling’s wizarding world beyond Harry Potter, earned $6 million from Thursday previews.The production is on track to earn roughly $40 million in its opening weekend, which would be the weakest start for a Potter-adjacent movie.

2016’s “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” launched to $74 million in North America, while the 2018 follow-up “The Crimes of Grindelwald” bowed to  $62 million.

The first of those films earned $8.7 million in Thursday previews, while its followup grossed $9.1 million. All those spells and sorcery doesn’t come cheap. “The Secrets of Dumbledore” cost a hefty $200 million to put on screen, a budget that grew in part due to COVID delays and safety protocols.