Do you think moviegoers might be a wee bit anxious about what happens to Captain Jack Sparrow, last seen disappearing into the jaws of the hideous kraken? Apparently yes, since the trailer containing the first bits of footage from PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: AT WORLD’S END has been viewed a staggering 350 MILLION times in its first 24 hours! Disney reports “unprecedented global viewership” due to its carefully orchestrated worldwide release: “The theatrical trailer for Walt Disney Pictures/Jerry Bruckheimer Films PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: AT WORLD’S END has reached the largest worldwide audience ever for a theatrical trailer debut, capturing more than 350 million viewers in a 24-hour period.”

The trailer launched during ABC-TV’s “Dancing with the Stars” on Monday night, where it reached an audience of 22 million (no surprise that “Dancing” was the evening’s #1 show). The trailer was then released on the Internet and began appearing on television in 61 countries around the world. Disney estimates a worldwide television viewership of more than 300 million, including 52 million in Japan alone; the TV numbers and the Internet numbers exceed 350 million viewers for the first day. Says Jim Gallagher, President, Buena Vista Pictures Marketing, “While we expected a good degree of anticipation and enthusiasm for the new trailer, the final figures for viewers across the globe over the past few days have truly exceeded our wildest expectations.” Well done! The Zone thanks emma for sharing the news. –Part-Time Poet