It's certainly the most anticipated film of the summer and when all's said and done, it could well be the biggest hit of the summer too. "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part Two", arrived in U.S. theaters at midnight. The last film in a series that's taken in over $2 billion domestically since the turn of the century.
Anticipation over the end of the Harry Potter saga had fans around the country, from Los Angeles to Charlotte, lined up for midnight screenings Thursday night.
What started as a series of books, ends on the big screen.
The final chapter of Hollywood's most successful movie franchise began with at least 6,000 midnight screenings sold out in advance according to online ticket seller Fandango.
Thom Geier of Entertainment Weekly says "this tops just about everything in terms of audience anticipation."
It's a film series that almost 10 years ago made overnight stars of a trio of novice pre-teen actors.
Actor Daniel Radcliffe says "my face and my stomach are vibrating, which is scary."
But that was then and this is now.
Radcliffe says "I've been in the best film slash drama school that anyone could wish for."
A story that started with the innocence of youth ends with a climactic battle between good and evil.
Actor Rupert Grint says "I underestimated the impact these films had on me it's my childhood."
It's a kinship shared with a generation of moviegoers. But now, millions of moviegoers around the world are saying goodbye to a legend.
Thom Geier says "fans are going to come away thinking this is a fitting conclusion to these incredible stories."
A magical farewell.
TXT 24
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