Fans and Movie Theatres Prepare for Final 'Harry Potter' Film Release

Harry Potter fans around the world are preparing for the final film installment of the wizard's adventures from Prince Charles talking to schoolchildren about the series' end, fans making Facebook pages for villain Voldemort's funeral, and a farmer creating a corn maze that is the largest image ever created of actor Daniel Radcliffe.

In some countries – including Australia, Russia, and much of Europe the movie was released today, July 13. But local movie theatres and Harry Potter fans are anticipating the release of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2” on Friday, July 15 at midnight.

Joy Chittipangna, assistant manager at Carmike Cinemas in Athens, said the theatre will show the movie on all 12 of its screens at midnight on Friday, including one showing in 3D. Tickets sold out about two weeks ago, she said.

Carmike Cinemas shows other movies at midnight, she said, but “this is the only one that sells out the entire theatre. I don't think anything's ever going to be as big as 'Harry Potter.'”

The theatre will show “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1” at 9 p.m. on Thursday for fans who want to see the movies back-to-back. The first 100 people to arrive will get posters for the movie, and the first 500 will get special 3D glasses shaped like Harry Potter's distinctive spectacles.

Chittipangna expects lots of moviegoers will dress up in Potter-related costumes or T-shirts.

“Last year, a majority of the people had the 'muggle' shirts,” she said, referring to the word wizards use to describe non-magical people. “A lot of people do dress up and wear the wands and ties.”

Chittipangna said she's only seen one of the “Harry Potter” movies herself, but plans to watch the rest in the next few weeks “to see what the hype is about.”

Beechwood Cinemas in Athens is also showing the new movie in 3D and 2D at midnight, and will show Part 1 at 9 p.m. Thursday. General manager David Kahn said he couldn't discuss business details such as ticket sales for “Harry Potter” or other movies the theatre has shown at midnight, but he expects a big turnout.

“It's gonna be busy,” he said. “It's gonna be real big, probably the biggest one yet.”

Katie Neel, 19, is a fan who plans to see the movie this weekend and has high expectations.

“It has to be good, it's the last one,” she said. “Since they split it up into two movies, they were able to go more by the books. They did a really good job.”

Neel said she has a costume she could wear from when she dressed up as Harry's friend Hermione one Halloween, but she doesn't think she'll wear it to the theatre. She likes “Harry Potter,” but she has her limits, she said.

“I'm not like one of those people who know all the spells,” she said. “But I really like 'Harry Potter.' I've read all the books, seen all the movies."