Scholastic Sales of “Cursed Child” Soar Over 2 Million in First Two Days

by · August 3, 2016

UPDATE 8/10/16:

Though sales have technically slowed in the week since Scholastic announced the groundbreaking 2 million copies Harry Potter and the Cursed Child sold in its first two days, the numbers are still tremendously impressive. A week after this announcement, Scholastic has revealed that sales are up to 3.3 million, putting them on track for the book’s initial North American print run of 4.5 million to sell out sometime soon.

Press Release

Scholastic Announces Sales of More Than 3.3 Million Copies of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Parts One and Two in North America

New York, NY (August 10, 2016) -- Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Parts One and Two script book, the eighth Harry Potter story by J.K. Rowling, John Tiffany, and Jack Thorne, published in the U.S. and Canada by Scholastic has sold more than 3.3 million copies in North America to date.

Scholastic announced a first printing of 4.5 million copies of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Parts One and Two script book, and retailers reported fast-paced, record-breaking pre-sales leading up to the release date with over 2 million copies sold in the first two days alone. The script book went straight to #1 on USA Today and New York Times bestseller lists.

“We are delighted to see the sustained enthusiasm for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Parts One and Two which has also sparked more interest in the seven previously published Harry Potter books,” said Ellie Berger, President, Scholastic Trade.

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Parts One and Two, a play by Jack Thorne based on an original story by J.K. Rowling, Jack Thorne and John Tiffany, premiered at The Palace Theatre in London’s West End on July 30, 2016 and received rave 5 star reviews. At 12:01 a.m. ET on July 31, Scholastic released the Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Parts One and Two script book (ISBN 978-1-338-09913-3; All Ages), in print in the U.S. and Canada. This Special Rehearsal Edition contains the complete script, including stage directions, used by the original West End production during the play’s preview period.

About the play:
On August 4, 2016 Harry Potter and the Cursed Child producers Sonia Friedman, Colin Callender and Harry Potter Theatrical Productions released 250,000 new tickets for sale taking bookings at the Palace Theatre through to December 10, 2017. These tickets sold out on the day however, returned tickets and other late release tickets will become available daily. A new booking period will be announced later this year for performances beginning December 13, 2017. www.harrypottertheplay.com/ticket-information

The first seven Harry Potter books, published by Scholastic in the U.S. between 1998 and 2007, have sold more than 160 million copies in the U.S., over 450 million copies worldwide, and are distributed in more than 200 territories, translated into 79 languages, and have been turned into eight blockbuster films.

ABOUT SCHOLASTIC
Scholastic Corporation (NASDAQ: SCHL) is the world's largest publisher and distributor of children's books, a leading provider of print and digital instructional materials for pre-K to grade 12, and a producer of educational and entertaining children's media. The Company creates quality books and ebooks, print and technology-based learning programs, classroom magazines and other products that, in combination, offer schools customized solutions to support children's learning both at school and at home. The Company also makes quality, affordable books available to all children through school-based book clubs and book fairs. With a 96 year history of service to schools and families, Scholastic continues to carry out its commitment to "Open a World of Possible" for all children. Learn more at www.scholastic.com.

For more information about Scholastic, visit the media room at http://mediaroom.scholastic.com.

Original Article:

It’s been three days since the script book of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child was unleashed upon the world, and love it or hate it, you can’t deny one thing – the book’s tremendous selling power. This morning, Scholastic announced that North American sales within the first two days of release reached over 2 million copies.

While it’s no surprise that the return of Rowling’s wizarding world in print was bound to perform well, the number of copies sold thus far is nothing short of magical. The 2 million copies of Cursed Child sold in North America in the first two days after its release constitutes almost half of Scholastic’s initial print run of 4.5 million copies. As a comparison, Scholastic printed 12 million copies of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows before its release in 2007.

Ellie Berger, President of Scholastic Trade, has said,

Eager fans of all ages gathered at midnight parties in bookstores and libraries to get their copies of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, bringing communities together to celebrate the magic of reading and the power of great storytelling. It’s an incredible start, and all the signs are indicating continued strong sales for this exciting release.

North America isn’t the only place where Cursed Child is selling like Omnioculars at the World Cup – BBC is reporting that the script is the fastest selling book in the UK in the last decade. There, the book has sold 680,000 copies in its first three days of release, putting it on track to have the second biggest release-week sales of a UK book ever (right after Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, which sold 1.8 million copies in the UK during its first week).

Now that’s some impressive spellwork.

Press Release

SCHOLASTIC ANNOUNCES SALES OF MORE THAN 2 MILLION COPIES OF HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD PARTS ONE AND TWO IN THE FIRST TWO DAYS

New York, NY (August 3, 2016) -- Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Parts One and Two script book, the eighth Harry Potter story by J.K. Rowling, John Tiffany, and Jack Thorne, published in the U.S. and Canada by Scholastic, hit bookstores nationwide at 12:01 a.m. on July 31, 2016. Retailer reports estimate that Scholastic has sold more than 2 million copies in North America in the first two days of sales, unprecedented for a script book.

“Eager fans of all ages gathered at midnight parties in bookstores and libraries to get their copies of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, bringing communities together to celebrate the magic of reading and the power of great storytelling,” said Ellie Berger, President, Scholastic Trade. “It’s an incredible start and all the signs are indicating continued strong sales for this exciting release.”

Scholastic announced a first printing of 4.5 million copies of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Parts One and Two script book, and retailers reported fast-paced, record-breaking pre-sales leading up to the release date.

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Parts One and Two, a play by Jack Thorne based on an original story by J.K. Rowling, Jack Thorne and John Tiffany, premiered at The Palace Theatre in London’s West End on July 30, 2016 and received rave 5 star reviews. At 12:01 a.m. ET on July 31, Scholastic released the Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Parts One and Two script book (ISBN 978-1-338-09913-3; All Ages), in print in the U.S. and Canada. This Special Rehearsal Edition contains the complete script, including stage directions, used by the original West End production during the play’s preview period.

The New York Times praised the script book as, “electric and nonstop…a compelling, stay-up-all-night read,” and Entertainment Weekly, in an “A” review, calls it, “captivating…this is Harry Potter like you’ve never experienced it before.” The Globe and Mail in Canada exclaimed that it’s “thumpingly good.”

Following rave reviews, Sonia Friedman, Colin Callender and Harry Potter Theatrical Productions, producers of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, recently announced that a further 250,000 tickets will be released for sale tomorrow ( Thursday August 4, 2016) at 11am BST, booking through to December 10, 2017. Tickets are priced from £15 per part and for every performance there will be 300 tickets at £20 or less per part.

Box Office – 0330 333 4813 www.HarryPotterthePlay.com

The first seven Harry Potter stories, published by Scholastic in the U.S. between 1998 and 2007 have sold more than 160 million copies in the U.S., over 450 million copies worldwide, and are distributed in more than 200 territories, translated into 79 languages, and have been turned into eight blockbuster films.

ABOUT SCHOLASTIC

Scholastic Corporation (NASDAQ: SCHL) is the world's largest publisher and distributor of children's books, a leading provider of print and digital instructional materials for pre-K to grade 12, and a producer of educational and entertaining children's media. The Company creates quality books and ebooks, print and technology-based learning programs, classroom magazines and other products that, in combination, offer schools customized solutions to support children's learning both at school and at home. The Company also makes quality, affordable books available to all children through school-based book clubs and book fairs. With a 96 year history of service to schools and families, Scholastic continues to carry out its commitment to "Open a World of Possible" for all children. Learn more at www.scholastic.com.

For more information about Scholastic, visit the media room at http://mediaroom.scholastic.com.

Jessica J.

I've been making magic at MuggleNet since 2012, when I first joined the staff as a News intern. I've never wavered from the declaration in my childhood journal, circa October 2000: "I LOVE Harry Potter! If I clean my room, my mom says she'll make me a dinner a wizard would love!" Proud Gryffindor; don't hate.