Audiences today are kind of jaded. The younger audience, teenagers, are looking for edgy comedy. People love animals, but that doesn't guarantee they're going to line up around the block to see a movie about animals.
Love and loss are two emotions that everyone can relate to, and that's why these movies really pull at our heartstrings.
The Potter franchise is just irresistible to moviegoers. The combination of the Potter books and the love audiences have for the movies conspired a big opening weekend.