1st DVD to break all sales records.

[Dave]

USA Today reported that Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone is number one on the sales chart at Amazon.com, even though it won't even arrive on DVD or video until May 28, thus setting the stage for Potter to surpass The Lion King as the best-selling video in history. The Lion King, which has been king of the video and DVD jungle for more than seven years, has sold in excess of 30 million units.

Wal-Mart.com media manager Cynthia Lin told USA Today that it expects Potter to be "the biggest title we've ever had," while Zane Plsek, director of video for Wherehouse Music, said, "A number of our stores will be open at midnight the day Harry is released. Fans are known to line up at midnight to get the latest book, and we are sure it will happen for the video."

Plsek, however, added that, "with the rapid growth of the DVD market, it's very hard to imagine that any title will stay at number one for very long." He cited as evidence the August release of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, which will be followed in November by a Fellowship special edition.

[Dave]

(from 'Toronto Sun' By JIM SLOTEK)

On the very week when 'Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone' has had its opening-weekend box-office record smashed by 'Spider-Man', its studio launched the Video & DVD, aiming at a new record.

It might not be the king of the box office anymore -- 'Spider-Man' took that title this week with a $114.8-million opening weekend, eclipsing Harry's $90.3 million -- but Warner Bros. has a new record in it's sights: that of biggest-selling video ever. It goes on sale in the UK tomorrow (May 11), and May 28 in North America.

The target is 'Shrek', which has sold 20 million copies in North America alone since its pre-Christmas release. Warner thinks it can break that record by the end of the month.

The DVD launch party was thrown at London's King's Cross station on fabled Platform 9 3/4 Wednesday May 8, bringing most of the cast of little wizards and supernatural beings in on the familiar black steam engine -- with Robbie Coltrane (Hagrid) riding the engine. The train actually came in on track 1, tracks 8 & 9 being decidedly grimy for a VIP party.

The entire cast of children was represented, save Harry himself (Daniel Radcliffe, who was filming some of the final scenes of the sequel, 'Harry Potter And The Chamber of Secrets'). Director Chris Columbus was along, with Richard Harris, Richard Griffiths (Harry's uncle Vernon Dursley), plus local Harry fans David Beckham (on Manchester United's injured list, and sans pregnant wife Victoria "Posh" Beckham), Jamiroquai lead singer Jason Kay and All Saints' Natalie Appleton. All of them carted away DVDs and Harry Potter electric train sets and were entertained by hired magicians who worked the crowd.

Not in attendance was author J.K. Rowling, who was presumably ensconced at home, rumoured to be still wrestling with writer's block on the fifth book in the billion-dollar kids' series, 'Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix' (it was first due in July, was re-scheduled for November, but now could be delayed until next year).

Also missing was Maggie Smith (Prof. McGonagall) who, by accounts, is starting to feel about Harry Potter the way Alec Guinness did about 'Star Wars'.