Can H arry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1pass out Toy Story 3and become the most lucrative film of 2010? The film's opening burst at the box office was certainly fairly impressive. By raking in £18.3 million (€21.6 million), Deathly Hallowsmanaged to break the record for the biggest ever weekend at the combined UK and Irish box office. Its initial global takings of $330 million (€247 million) are almost a third of what Toy Story 3has taken overall.

Then again, the global opening weekend of Iron Man 2still managed to outstrip Mr Potter. But Rowling's gang have legs, my friend. It could be a close-run thing.