'Harry Potter' Fever Hits Laguna Niguel

Harry Potter fever has a firm grip in Laguna Niguel, as fans have been gearing up for the final film in the seven-part series about an orphan who learns he is a wizard.

And if advanced ticket sales count for anything, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2, which opened here Thursday at midnight, is going to be a hug hit.

According to Regal Entertinment Group, which owns and operate Edwards, Regal Cinemas,and United Artists theaters across the country, advance ticket sales for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 have exceeded $10 million. 

"At many of our locations, we are adding midnight shows for Harry Potter to be shown on every screen in the multiplex,” said Greg Dunn, president and CEO of Regal Entertainment Group.

Robbie Arrington, marketing manager for Regal, said that as of late Thursday afternoon:

• All 17 screens at Edwards Aliso Viejo were sold out and a 3 a.m. Imax screening added.
• Kaleidoscope in Mission Viejo had sold out three shows.
• Ocean Ranch had sold out three shows.
• Edwards Irvine Spectrum 21 had sold out all 21 screens and added 3 a.m. shows for Imax and non-Imax.

Moms Are Ready

Moms throughout the city have been gearing up for the movie for weeks and seem to be as excited as their kids.

Wendy Ferreira, mother of two said, "When our kids were young, we read the books aloud to them. We were always first in line to get our midnight edition of the books at Barnes & Noble. Now that the kids are older, they go with their friends to the theater. Our kids grew up with Harry Potter. Our family has read all the books and seen all the movies. It is kind of sad that it's all over. Kudos to J.K. Rowling for inspiring a generation to read." 

Callie Ferreira said, "My birthday is on opening day, and we could not get a ticket until Saturday. Bummer!"

Mother of four Jen Klopstock said, "It is a requirement in our house that if there is a movie based on a book, that the book must be read before the movie is seen. Regarding Harry Potter, it is bittersweet because it is over. This is the only Harry Potter movie I will not see on opening day at midnight." 

She could not go today due to a family scheduling conflict.

 "The books are so much better than the movies.  I have been disappointed in the past with previous films that have left out important details. I hope that does not happen with this final film. That having been said, the movies are still great!"  

Carol Vincent, mother of 15-year-old triplets, said, "I had to buy my tickets two weeks ago just to get them in on Friday afternoon." 

Hours before the film's opening, locals—some in costume—were already camped out at area theaters.  

Camped out on Thursday at Edwards Ocean Ranch and donning a few Potter pins and carrying wands, Pascal Staeheli, 20, said,  "I am excited to see the movie because it is the last movie, and this is what the entire series has been building up to. I didn't read the last book, so I want to see how it all comes together. I am excited to see all of the action. It's closing a childhood story."

Is she sad to see it end?

"A little, but I feel like J.K. Rowling has a few tricks up herself sleeves and there will be more movies," she said. "She is a wizard."

Her friend Nushina Shirazi, 18, who was planning to go to the midnight show, said, "I have read all of the books, and I am an avid Harry Potter fan. I always want to be the first to see it so I don't have to hear other people talk about it the next day."

She also said it is a bittersweet moment and that she is "sad to see it go and not be able to experience any new ones again."

Her friend Faith McReady said the entire experience is a big deal for a number of reasons.

"It is the last one. I have seen the midnight showing of every Harry Potter movie at this theater," she said. "I am very excited to see it. I just want to know how it all ends."

Added Kelly Baker, who has also seen the other films and can't wait for the last one. "It has been around since I was a child. Now a household name is coming to an end.  It is bittersweet. I'll be sad, but I am excited to see it. "

More than 4,335 locations will be showing the film (that's more than 11,000 screens).

"Harry Potter, like Star Wars and Lord of the Rings, has legions of fans worldwide, and when an epic series of this caliber comes to a close,  fans big and small crawl out from behind their social network sites and actually meet up face to face to see how it all ends," said Regency Theatres general manager Greg Le Noue.

"Even though most die-hard Potter fans have already read the final book [and know the end result], one's imagination can only partially visualize what Hollywood will interpret on the silver screen for Deathly Hollows: Part II. And for those fanatics who have not read the series, come on, no one ever reads a Hemingway or Doyle novel and puts it down at the last chapter."