As living in Australia, we are behind in most things such as t.v shows, movies etc... Do you think its unfair that the release date for Order of the Phoenix in Australia is on the 6th of September, while many other countries' release dates are basically, all in July?

As an Aussie myself I don't have a problem with it coming out later here. While all the other countries are arguing over the rating of it - which has happened the last 2 times? - our people won't have to enter it because by the time it opens here they've settled on a rating and we can have it shown immediately.

I'll admit that it does suck to have everyone talking about the movie before we get to see it but think of all the politics involved with the ratings of movies now-a-days. It's getting ridiculous. Let the other countries duke it out, that way we get the 'hassle free' version of the movies.

I wonder if they do that for financial reasons?

It wouldn't be easy for an Aussie or a Kiwi to just go to another country to see the film early, so they make you wait--that way they can send all the films that have already been shown in other countries, saving the expenses of making however many hundred they would need for all the cinemas in Australia and New Zealand...

Just a theory. They make you wait because they can! Even though it isn't fair.

i can already see all the people who are going to download the movie off the internet or get it illegally instead of wanting to wait.
i won't say anything about liking to wait or whatever, because i don't have to.

the movie should be let out everywhere around the same time, is what i say.

Stupid politics ! <-- {i don't know why i said that}

I was wondering why they had different release dates for different countries because surely it would make more sense to release it at the same time as it is completed well...ermm...at the same time like TheatreNerd0048 said, that just encourages illegal downloads

I have to admit that i accidently downloaded charlie and the chocolate facotry (1st half - apparently it comes in two halves) by mistake, because I was sad enough to look for the umpah lumpa song and just left it and it came up with 1/2 of the film (Oooops) I have to say (I watched in the cinema too) that watching it on a computer screen doesn't even compare so I can't see why people would do it when they can buy/go to see/rent it, although I can empathise with those people who have to wait for an extended period of time - I mean anything is better than nothing

I realise that for places like china, there has to be translation - which takes time but in places like australia why make them wait?

and indedd, it is quite unfair that they have to wait for translation - although I can understand that considerable effort must be required to do that (I have seen quite a few films translated into english and the speed at which the film progresses there must be a loooooot of work involved)

wasn't there a thing where when the books came out the fans themselves wre translating chapters each and posting them, so they wouldn't have to wait for the book release date - wow what dedication, I couldn't imagine having that much dedication if it were originally printed in, for example french, I would be lazy and wait and be cheeky and have a nosey at what others had translated

I mean, at uni we have translators available for exchange students ( as well as sign language people for the deaf etc) so perhaps they could have someone on hand to translate as it is happening - actually that might not work, because in a lecture it happened in a sequence whereas when filming it is sort of bitty, well couldn't they give translators they script as soon as it is finalised - to translate and then the release dates may be closer together?

hope that made sense:P

as for the ratings thing, couldn't they settle on a universal rating scheme for all countries - I mean most politicians spend numerous hours talking about racism and then they seem to deem the age limit etc at which films can be seen as different for different countries - it should be universal - I understand that there are many many cultural differences, but after all t is the same film and it is not like it is an over 19 film with explicit nudity and violence

I wish I knew more about politics

they manage to have the book come out everywhere at the EXACT same time. down to the last minute! why cant it be the same with the movies? obviously not down to the same minute, but the same day would be too hard!

the main reason with the realise dates are the way they are is school holidays. the australian achool holidays finish a few weeks before the realise of the movie in america england etc. the movie for us comes out just before the third term school holidays.
the whole thing is about warner bros. making more money. its completely unfair, but true. its all about making money.

with the ratings i personally like australias ratings more so than the USA's. we have G, PG, M, MA, R. they have G PG13+ and R. and all our MA movies are in the USA R. so maybe every other country should have our system. but with OotP being delayed coz of ratings, they nearly always decide at least a week before hand, so the rating wouldn't have to much to do with it.

I think that since there are a handful of movies that get released every week or so, Companies that wanted theirs out sooner would pay more to get them in cinemas first. And if that is true then there is porbably a waiting list. Normally - here in Queensland, not sure about the other states - the movies get released on a thursday. The ones that get released on another day are usually backed by lots of media coverage and hype and that different day release guarantees them that more people will see it on opening day because it's not competing with anything.
So unless HP is THE major movie of that year there is no guarantee that we'll see it at the same time as other countries. Bigger movies with Bigger names in them have already taken the spots that could be used by HP. Plus they probably want the highest possible grossing movies to be out during specific months and unless HP is in that category they won't show it to us until much later.

Just found this - saying that GoF is the 8th most successful film of all time! Matthew posted it earlier this year. I seriously hope for you guys that it might earn OotP a special day for premiering there...

It's funny, we also usually wait months for movies to come out here, but the Harry Potter movies have all come out almost at the same time as in the rest of the world.

I don't mind about the films coming out later, but the book will come out at the same time as everyone esle???? Right????? I'm going on a school netball tour in July, and i've already asked my coach if i can buy the book at midnight, (she laughed but it was a good laugh, hold thumbs), i will go insane if io have to wait to be back in S.A. to read the book!!!

Someone tell me!?!?!?!?!?!?!

You people are complaining about having to wait two months or so for the movie. Well, in Greece, if things work as they did with GoF, i will watch the movie in NOVEMBER!!!!!! So, yeah, i may download it, it is cruel having to wait for so long, it is very unfair...So, please, do not feel bad about having to wait a couple of months...
As far as the book is concerned, i will have to wait for the greek edition for many months, so i will pre-order the english one at least two weeks before its release date. Fortunately, it will be released all over Europe (and probably all over the world) at the same day...
Or...i think so...

Sorry if I'm wrong, but I was under the impression that the fifth movie came out on the 12th of July here (Australia), which is the day before it is released in England and America. At least, that's what it says on Mugglenet on the list of release dates for different countries. My friends and I have all been looking forward to its release here, which, if you work out the time difference, means we will actually get it approximately two days before the big countries like America and England. I had previously heard that the movie would be released a few months later than over there, but I trust Mugglenet and I am relying on their list of release dates. I will be absolutely heartbroken if you are right and I am wrong.

alkisti, I'm sorry that it's coming out so late in Greece, it's very unfair that different countries get it earlier just because of their language or location in the world (or completely different reasons). I can understand wanting to download it: I have seen movies that my friends have downloaded and they haven't seemed of such terrible quality. I wouldn't download a movie though, because that would make my internet bill way higher than it already is and I think my mum would kill me

If you go by Mugglenet, we should be seeing the movie in around four months and three weeks Looking forward to it!

I was also under the impression that the movie was going to be out in July here in Australia. I have been counting down the months. I also saw the dates here in this site and it said that Australia will be getting the movie released in July 21st. I think it 21st. Whatever. It had better be out then thats all I can say.

I do feel sorry for anyone who has to wait longer. I have a friend who will be overseas with the army when the movie and the book comes out and he is so frantic that noone tells him what happens. I bet he won't even respond to any emails or phone calls until he comes home and reads the book and sees the movie himself.

My only fear is what to do when the final book comes out and there is no more? I know the movies will still be coming but that won't be for years. Does anyone know when they start making the next movie - the half blood prince movie?

mrs hagrid

I think that I read somewhere that they were going to begin recording The Half-Blood Prince sometime in September of this year. That could be completely wrong though so don't be mad at me if i'm wrong!

I wouldn't get angry at you witherwings09. At least now I know. I can start getting excited after I get to see the next movie. I do like something to look forward to.

mrs hagrid

I'm from Aussie and I know for a fact the movie is coming out on:

12th July, 2007

lol I have it permanently embossed in my head because I am making sure I am seeing that movie that day. The HPDH book is also coming out on:

21st July, 2007

It is going to be the best 2 weeks ever. I'm getting goosebumps right now thinking about it.

PS I could be wrong and if I am...bad things will happen.

Im Aussie and Its out on 12th of July before the U.K! i was really surprised, even more surprise that it was on July 12th because July 22th is a very, very, very special day because It's My Birthday! exactly on July 12th I cried with happiness when I found out Go me!!!

I'm from Britain, Scotland to be exact and I have just found out that in America, its coming out on the 11th of July, not the 12th which is when it is out here.
Now my appologies if I am wrong, which I hope that I am, but I don't think that is very fair either considering its a British Film with British Actors and written by a British Author.
No offence to the US but seriously, it aint funny!

I wouldn't get too stressed out TheKiltedOne, I mean taking time differences into cond=sideration, we are only talking a matter of hours here not days. I don't think it is meant to be a personal affront to us Brits, it just has something to do with the distributors and making the most money they can from it's lengthened opening weekend.

I believe there is one major factor that you have left out TheKiltedOne. It isnt a british film, so to speak. Warner Bros. the company making the film is an American Company. Yes, the actors are british, the story is british, and it was filmed over there as well, but it still is an American Company making the film, making it logical that America would get the film in major theaters first. I'm not sure why it all can't be simultaneous, but it's not really unfair in the sense that Warner Bros., those funding the film, is an American Company.

~Albus

I don't want this to end up in some slanging match between who has the most rights to show the OotP first, the Brits or the Americans. We could argue that 'til the cows come home as both have a vested interest.

Let's keep this in the nature of VTM, our shared appreciation in the world of Harry Potter.

Just putting my threepence worth in.

Mod Edit: One liners are not allowed on the forums. Please check your in box, a Head Auror will be sending you and Owl shortly. Thanks

Oh naturally... I just wanted to point out that there is two sides to the story, and there is some justification to the earlier release in America. In fact, personally, I would support an earlier British Release seeing as the story takes place in England. But that's just me playing the devil's advocate.

hello there


well it seems unfair. i'm from South-Africa and when GOB came out we had to wait about 3 months to show here. usually we are far behind other countries but not with OOTP.


well keep strong and you will be able to wait for september....


peace out

OMG that is really unfair. Its not even a few days that you have to wait. I feel really bad. Sorry to hear about that for all of you that are from Aussie.