"HARRY POTTER & THE DEATHLY HALLOWS PART 2" IS 2011'S HIGHEST-GROSSING FILM

Still from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2

It is absolutely no surprise that 2011 tallies show that Franchise Finale Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2, is internationally the year's highest-grossing Film.  The Warner Bros. Fantasy Drama earned a whopping $1.328 billion worldwide, over $200 million more than its closest competition, Transformers: Dark of the Moon. This past Summer I was lucky enough to be a part of the Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 Canadian Press Tour.  Click here to read my Interview with burgeoning Star, Matthew Lewis.

Note that eight out of ten of these Films actually are sequels with Warner Bros., Buena Vista/Disney and Paramount Pictures each accounting for two each. Based on Rotten Tomatoes ratings for the Top Ten, it would appear there is a bit of a divide between Critical and Commercial tastes with these ten averaging 56.3% among Critics, below the "Certified Fresh" threshold.

Without further ado, here are your Top Ten Grossing Films of 2011:

LARRY THE CABLE GUY'S "BEANIE WEENIE CORNBREAD CASSEROLE"

Beanie Weenie Cornbread Casserole

In celebration of Walt Disney Motion Pictures' release of Cars 2 on DVD, I wanted to share with you a brilliant Recipe shared by none other than its star, Larry the Cable Guy on Live with Regis and Kelly recently. This Recipe - The Beanie Weenie Cornbread Casserole -  is from his own Mother-in-Law, he revealed.

It's simple, delicious Comfort Food and takes less than an hour to prepare from start to finish!  The combination of buttery Cornbread and the smokiness of the Hot Dogs and sweet Maple Syrup is Autumn-perfect.

Ingredients:
3 Cans of Baked Beans
1 Package of Hot Dogs, chopped-up
1/3 Cup of Barbecue Sauce
1/3 Cup of Brown Sugar (try my twist: 1/4 Cup of Maple Syrup)
1 Package of Cornbread Mix
1 Egg
1/3 Cup of Milk

Directions:

Preheat oven to 425°F. In mixing bowl, combine Cornbread Mix, 1 Egg and Milk, stirring well. In a frying pan, sautee chopped Hot Dogs until browned. In separate mixing bowl, combine Baked Beans, Barbecue Sauce and Brown Sugar/Maple Syrup. Fold in Hot Dogs.

"THE SMURFS 3-D" AND "COWBOYS & ALIENS" BATTLE TOOTH AND NAIL

Still from The Smurfs 3-D

Critics hated them both but Moviegoers loved them both equally... one just a little more than the other.  In one of the tightest finishes at the Box Office in recent memory, Universal Pictures' Cowboys and Aliens, starring Harrison Ford and Daniel Craig, fought tooth and nail to edge out The Smurfs 3-D with $36.4 million.  The former  was panned by Critics with a 44% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, while the latter equally was torn to shreds with an 18% consensus on Rotten Tomatoes' Tomatometer. The Motion Picture based on those lovable blue creatures who many in the '80s grew-up watching, earned $35.6 million for Sony Pictures.  

Last week's champion Captain America: The First Avenger slips to third spot with $25 million in its second week, bringing its tally to $110 million in North America.  The Marvel adaptation was made for $140 million.

Warner Bros.' Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 finished just ahead in fourth of another Film from the studio, Crazy Stupid Love. The Rom-Com perhaps had the misfortune of opening on a busy weekend, but it still debuts in a dignified fifith with $18.6 million.  This one looks to be a stayer with many positive reviews pouring in.

Friends with Benefits in its second week, slips to sixth spot with $9.3 million for Sony Pictures, earning $38 million total thus far, just making back its $35 million invested in production costs.

Rounding out the Top Ten is Disney's Cars 2, with $2.5 million earned this weekend.  To-date the Film has made $354 million worldwide in six weeks.

"TRANSFORMERS: DARK OF THE MOON" ON-TOP AGAIN

Still from Horrible Bosses

For a second consecutive week, Transformers: Dark of the Moon takes the top of the Box Office with $47 million this weekend bringing its tally to $261 million, making back its $195 in production costs.

Debuting in second is Warner Bros. Comedy Horrible Bosses with $28 million with its all-star Cast headlined by Jason Sudeikis, Jason Bateman, Jennifer Aniston and Colin Farrell.  In addition to being  Box Office hit, it has fared well with Critics, garnering 73% on the Tomatometer on Rotten Tomatoes.

Kevin James-headlined Comedy Zookeeper despite getting little buzz, still debuts in third this weekend with $21 million for Sony Pictures.  The Film also stars Rosario Dawson, Adam Sandler and Ken Jeong, although it has been panned by Critics with a 15% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Cars 2 still continues to perform strongly, finishing in fifth spot for Disney with $15.2 million, just ahead of Bad Teacher, which slips to sixth spot with $9.2 million in its third week.

"TRANSFORMERS: DARK OF THE MOON" TOPS THE HOLIDAY BOX OFFICE

Still from Transformers: Dark of the Moon

Like its first two installments, Paramount Pictures' Transformers: Dark of the Moon takes the top spot at the Box Office this  holiday weekend with $97 million over three days (Friday to Sunday). Opening in 4,013 theatres, the Sci-fi Action Film trails Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen which opened with $109 million back in October 2009, but bests the original Transformers which opened with $70 million in November 2007.  Maybe this third Film in the Series didn't need Megan Fox that much after all?

Disney's Cars 2 performs well in its second week of release with $24.7 million from 4,115 theatres. To-date it is earned $121 million in North America, ahead of Sony Pictures' Comedy Bad Teacher which in its second week also brings in $14 million.

Larry Crowne debuts disappointingly in fourth spot for Universal Pictures (Alliance Films in Canada), earning $13.5 million. The Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts-headlined Rom-Com hasn't fared well overall with Critics, garnering 34% on Rotten Tomatoes' Tomatometer.

20th Century Fox's Monte Carlo starring Selena Gomez, Leighton Meester and Katie Cassidy could only manage a fifth-place debut with $7.5 million. Despite a 40% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, CinemaScore has given the Film an A grade.

Easily Woody Allen's biggest Box Office success in years, Midnight in Paris still clings on to the Top Ten in ninth spot with $3.5 million from 951 theatres, just ahead of a resilient Bridesmaids in tenth with $3.3 million. Bridesmaids in eight weeks of release, has earned $153.4 million for Universal Pictures, making it Director/Writer Judd Apatow's highest-grossing Film ever.

"CARS 2" ZOOMS TO TOP OF THE BOX OFFICE

Still from Cars 2

Cars 2 accelerates all the way to the top of the Box Office this weekend with $67 million earned for Disney. This result bests its predecessor's performance in its 2006 debut, earning $60 million on opening weekend.

Bad Teacher starring Cameron Diaz, Jason Segel and Justin Timberlake debuts in second for Sony Pictures, with an impressive $31 million despite negative reviews overall (46% on Rotten Tomatoes' Tomatometer). On any other weekend this would place it on top.

Last week's champion Green Lantern slips to third with $18 million, ahead of Super 8 with $12.2 million. Mr. Popper's Penguins starring Jim Carrey continues to go strong still in fifth spot with $11 million this weekend, bringing its three-week tally to $95.3 million.

Bridesmaids surprisingly is still in the game in eighth spot with $5.5 million. In it seven-week run it has brought in $146.8 million for Universal Pictures.  Meanwhile, Woody Allen's Midnight in Paris slips to tenth spot this weekend with $4.2 million.

LARRY THE CABLE GUY IN TORONTO FOR "CARS 2"

Larry the Cable Guy

Larry the Cable Guy flew in earlier today, sparing a couple hours for the Toronto Press Tour of Disney's Cars 2.  Somewhere between releasing Gold-selling Comedy Albums and hosting his own Television Show Only in America with Larry the Cable Guy on the History Channel, the Comedian returned to voice Protagonist Mater, a Tow Truck with a Hillbilly Accent. 2006's Cars went on to garner over $461.9 million worldwide.

In Cars 2, Mater finds himself in Tokyo supporting BFF Lightning McQueen (Owen Wilson) in the World Grand Prix, but also is mistakenly-identified as an American spy; John Lasseter directs. 

Graciously a quick Photo-Op was staged with Larry the Cable Guy just outside his Yorkville Hotel before he head off to the Airport.  And he was absolutely pleasant about it and happy to be photographed despite being in a rush. Even a Celebrity Driver, pardon the pun - for another Car - had to walk over to tell him what a Fan he is!

Walt Disney Motion Pictures Canada releases Cars 2 on June 24, 2011.  Visit the official website here.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will-W.)