"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:

"SUPER 8" TAKES SPIELBERG BACK TO THE TOP OF BOX OFFICE

Still from Super 8

Producer Steven Spielberg makes a triumphant return to the top with J.J. Abram's latest Super 8. The Sci-fi Thriller brought in $37 million in its debut for Paramount Pictures. A critical success also, it garnered an 82% rating at Rotten Tomatoes.

X-Men: First Class slips to second spot this weekend with $25 million in its second week, bringing its tally to $98.8 million domestically. The Hangover Part II is still going strong for Warner Bros., slipping to third this weekend with a respectable $18.5 million and to-date it has earned $216.5 million in its three-week run.

Kung-Fu Panda 2 places in fourth with $16.3 million this weekend. Meanwhile, Judy Moody and the NOT Bummer Summer debuts in sixth spot with $6.2 million and Woody Allen's latest Midnight in Paris sits in eighth spot for a second consecutive week after having expanded to 944 theatres with $6.1 million.

Fast Five after a valiant seven-week run rounds out the Top Ten with $1.7 million, now surpassing $205 million in earnings in North America.

X-MEN: FIRST CLASS LIVES UP TO ITS NAME IN DEBUT

Still from X-Men - First Class

X-Men: First Class had a first-in-class opening weekend at the Box Office, taking in $53 million from  3,641 theatres for 20th Century Fox.  Although a solid opening, this is considered weak for a Marvel Comics adaptation.   Reviews however, have been strong for the Film starring an Oscar-caliber Cast of Michael Fassbender, James McAvoy, Jennifer Lawrence and Rose Byrne.  Rotten Tomatoes pegs it at 87% on its Tomatometer.

The Hangover Part II is still going strong in its second week, slipping to second with $35 million after a record-setting opening.  It is v. close to surpassing the $200 million mark domestically.

Meanwhile, Kung Fu Panda 2 continues to perform strong in third with $22 million this weekend in its second week, putting it just ahead of former Box Office-topper Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides in fourth with $16.5 million in its third week of release.

Bridesmaids just surpassed the $100 million-mark in earnings this weekend in fifth spot with $12 million (a second Movie in the Top Ten for Byrne) and more notably, Woody Allen's Midnight in Paris in Limited Release (147 theatres) is performing well in eighth spot with $2.4 million.

"THE HANGOVER PART II" SHATTERS BOX OFFICE RECORD

Still from The Hangover Part II

Congratulations, Warner Bros.! The Hangover Part II officially has shattered Box Office Records, becoming the highest opening R-rated Comedy of all time. Opening Thursday night with an eye-popping $31.6 million alone, the Wolf Pack are expected to make $107 million by Sunday and $139 by the end of U.S. Memorial Day Weekend. Despite poor reviews overall on Rotten Tomatoes (35%), CinemaScore rated the Film an "A" still.

Kung Fu Panda 2 was expected to give The Hangover Part II a run for its money, but in the end failed to threaten even though it performed well, with a projected take of $56 million by Sunday and $65 million over a five-day weekend.

After a superb debut, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides is still going strong, estimated to take-in $50 million by Sunday. Bridesmaids follows behind in fourth with $20.6 million. To-date the Comedy has brought in $89.3 million in three weeks. Meanwhile, Thor finds itself in fifth this Memorial Day Weekend with $12 million.

Woody Allen's latest Midnight in Paris showing in only 58 theatres, lands in ninth spot in its second week of release with $2.2 million. The Rom-Com starring Rachel McAdams, Owen Wilson, Michael Sheen and Marion Cotillard will continue to expand in coming weeks.