IN his final act, Harry Potter conjured a masterful spell over audiences this weekend, as the eighth film in the massively popular franchise became the highest-grossing movie opening of all time at the domestic box office.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 raked in an unprecedented $168.6 million at the box office in just three days, flying past the $158.4-million record set by 2008’s The Dark Knight, according to an estimate by distributor Warner Bros.

The film about a boy wizard began breaking box office records only hours after it opened on Friday—selling more tickets during postmidnight screenings than any other movie in history, and then passing the milestone for all-time highest single-day gross with $92.1 million.

The movie went on gross far more than any Harry Potter film has on its first weekend in theaters. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1, released in November, previously held that record with $125 million in ticket sales upon its debut.

Abroad, the last Potter installment also had a magical touch. As of Saturday, the film had collected $157.5 million in 59 foreign markets since it opened on Wednesday in some overseas markets. That put the film’s receipts 45 percent above those of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 after the same time period in those countries.

By weekend’s end, Deathly Hallows: Part 2 will have grossed a whopping $307 million overseas, according to estimates, marking the biggest international weekend ever. The film performed best in the United Kingdom, where it collected $36.6 million, as well as Australia, where it made $26.7 million.

Those who saw the film loved it, giving it an average grade of A, according to market research film CinemaScore. Deathly Hallows: Part 2, also the best-reviewed film of the series, appealed to a broad audience, though the crowd was somewhat more female (54 percent) than male (46 percent). Folks of all ages saw the movie: 28 percent of the crowd was under 18, while 20 percent was between the ages of 45 and 49. The film was also the first in the franchise to be released in 3D, and about 43 percent of the audience watched it in that format.

Interestingly, a bulk of the US business for Deathly Hallows: Part 2 came from Salt Lake City. Utah’s Jordan Commons megaplex sold more tickets to the final Potter film than any other theater in the country with $360,400 in receipts. Theaters in New York and San Francisco followed behind, but the fifth highest-grossing theater was also in Salt Lake. The headquarters of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is headquartered in Salt Lake City. Jeffrey Roy Holland, a Mormon senior apostle, appears to be a Potter supporter and has referred to J.K. Rowling’s books in public addresses.

 The only film brave enough to open opposite  the Harry Potter juggernaut this weekend was Winnie the Pooh, Disney’s attempt to reintroduce the iconic honey-loving bear to modern audiences. But the hand-drawn animated film, rated G, mustered only $8 million in ticket sales.

Those who saw Pooh—an audience dominated by families, which accounted for 85 percent of those who saw the movie—liked it, giving it an average grade of A-. Disney, which spent about $30 million to produce the movie, can only hope that the strong grade will help Pooh hold up well in the coming weeks as the Harry Potter buzz begins to fade.

Two films that opened last weekend, Horrible Bosses and Zookeeper, both had a solid hold at the box office despite the Potter onslaught. Bosses, about three guys trying to kill their superiors, saw its ticket sales drop only 38 percent to $17.6 million, while receipts for the Kevin James family comedy Zookeeper fell 39 percent to $12.3 million.

Meanwhile, Woody Allen’s Midnight in Paris this weekend officially became the filmmaker’s highest-grossing film ever in North America. Since its release in May, the film has collected $41.8 million in the US and Canada, surpassing the $40.1 million Allen’s Hannah and her Sisters collected in 1986. Owen Wilson, who stars in Paris, had this to say of the achievement: “Congratulations Woody—delighted and honored to have been included.”

Here are the top 10 movies at the domestic box office, with international grosses when available, according to studio estimates and Hollywood.com:

1. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (Warner Bros.): Opened to $168.6 million. $307 million overseas in 59 foreign markets.

2. Transformers: Dark of the Moon (Paramount): $21.3 million on its third weekend, down 55 percent. $39 million overseas in 59 foreign markets. Domestic total: $302.8 million. International total: $460 million.

3. Horrible Bosses (Warner Bros.): $17.6 million on its second weekend, down 38 percent. Domestic total: $60 million.

4. Zookeeper (MGM/Sony): $12.3 million on its second weekend, down 39 percent. $5.1 million overseas in 17 foreign markets. Domestic total: $42.4 million. International total: $15.8 million.

5. Cars 2 (Disney/Pixar): $8.3 million on its fourth weekend, down 45 percent. $12.4 million overseas in 28 foreign markets. Domestic total: $165.3 million. International total: $146.6 million.

6. Winnie the Pooh (Disney): Opened to $8 million.

7. Bad Teacher (Sony): $5.2 million on its fourth weekend, down 42 percent. $6.5 million overseas in 30 foreign markets. Domestic total: $88.5 million. International total: $58.2 million.

8. Larry Crowne (Universal/Vendôme): $2.6 million on its third weekend, down 57 percent. Domestic total: $31.6 million.

9. Super 8 (Paramount): $1.9 million on its sixth weekend, down 60 percent. Domestic total: $122.2 million.

10. Midnight in Paris (Sony Pictures Classics): $1.9 million on its ninth weekend, down 28 percent. Domestic total: $41.8 million.