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The four houses of Gryffindor, Slytherin, Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw came together for the final installation of the Harry Potter series, and so did dedicated and costumed fans late Thursday night.
Nine movie theaters were sold out for the midnight showing at the United Artists Cortlandt Stadium Town Center early Friday, where well over 2,000 devoted fans flocked to see the final film.
Fans donned costumes including the likes of forehead scars, wizard robes, striped ties and Luna Lovegood wigs. For many who saw the film as soon as possible, at midnight, the Harry Potter book and film series are something thats been around since before they could read, never mind pronounce Voldemort.
Stephen Conti and Shelley Sperling decided to mark the occasion by dressing up in Hogwarts outfits.
Theres a magical world to it, but it also tells the story of friendship and love and real life stories, Sperling said, a student from Putnam Valley.
For three friends who attend John F. Kennedy Catholic school in Somers, the films and books are a common thread their friendship shares.
It was literally everything to useverything we did, said Ellen McTigue.
McTigue and her friends Paige Faustini and Gena Martin wore different Potter-themed outfits, complete with a scar drawn on their foreheads. Their friend who admittedly only attended the movie for the popcorn was forced to wear a t-shirt marking her as a muggle.
Its very bittersweet, Martin said. We are obsessed!
For Fan Tarin Rickett, the end of Fridays premiere was more than just the end of a series.
"It's like the end of an era, she said.
The end of the era of Harry Potter movies is also the end of a long series of box office hits. Harry Potter and The Deathly Hollows Part 1 took in $125 million in the US and Canada in its first week, making it the sixth biggest box office opening weekend in history. Currently the biggest box office opening weekend is the Dark Knight, which took in $158 million, and is also produced by Warner Brothers.
Movie theater manager Jose Almonte said Fridays packed theaters set a record in attendance.
The crowd was a mix of long dedicated and devoted Harry Potter fanatics, and the newly created fans as well.
Valerie Stanson started reading the series just two weeks ago when she reserved her ticket, and finished the books just in time.
She [J.K. Rowling] just lures the reader in and incorporates the real worldtheres magic in it, but its not just about that, she said.
Friends CJ Aprea and Joanna Mazzella were dressed as Harry Potter and Luna Lovegood respectively.
Ive just always loved Harry Potter, always, Aprea said.
When I was six my mother would read it to me, and then I got started reading them all on my own, Mazzella said. The two friends said before a new movie in the series comes out they would watch the previous to catch themselves up.
Jackie Kaishian was a fan of the books before she could read. Now a student at Yorktown High School, she prepared in advance for tonights premier.
"My dad used to read it to me when I was little." Kaishian said. The devoted fan spent her afternoon preparing for the movieshe watched the first installment of the Deathly Hollows, and then arrived at the theater far in advance.
Marie Vitale from Garrison wasnt sure what it would feel like for the series to end.
"I thought it would be a lot worse for me, but I got a lot of closure with the book, she said.
According to BoxOffice.com as of Thursday afternoon, Fandango reported around 5,000 sold-out shows, and advance sales have hit a record-setting $32 million. BoxOffice.com predicted opening weekend sales to be around $151 million dollars made up of presales and multiple viewings of the movie.
Vitale said she bought her ticket later than usual. "I bought mine about one or two weeks ago, normally I would buy something like this months in advance."
Did you see The Deathly Hallows Part 2 at midnight? Why do you think there's so much interest and dedication from fans of the Harry Potter series?
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