Harry Potter Hysteria Coming to Theatres Near You

In just a few weeks, the long awaited “Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows Part 2” hits theatres near you, and it will hit them hard.

July 15 marks the beginning of the end of a saga that defined much of the past decade. But July 14 is the day you want to mark on your calendars, the day you need to camp out for the best possible seats to the midnight showing.

However, if you don’t purchase tickets now, you’re going to have a difficult time finding them. (My friends and I bought our tickets last week for the July 15 midnight showing at the in South Whitehall.)

People aren’t going to wait until they actually see the film before they fantasize about the movie. On Nov. 19, the seventh Harry Potter film ended with fans holding on to the edge of their seats. I witnessed crowds filled with students and families, clad in Gryffindor and Hogwarts attire, all willing to clear their schedule to watch the first part of the finale.

But that was only the beginning; just imagine the crowd that will come out to witness the final installment. Also as a guy who just got back from Universal Studio’s “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter” and watched fans frantically purchase $30 wands and $12 butterbeers, I can tell you this movie is going to be huge.

It’s extremely difficult to fathom a simple paperback’s ascent into one of the most popular recognizable icons in the world, but never before has there been a series quite like Harry Potter. One could compare it to “Star Wars” or “Lord of the Rings,” but both had extremely specific audiences; Harry Potter’s audience is the world.

Harry Potter may be filled with witchcraft and wizardry, but there arguably has never been a more relatable film. Elementary students are able to connect with the series as well as the adults who read to them. Every child can associate with the universal themes of friendship and love, with tragedy and triumph, and with power and humility.

It doesn’t matter that the series takes place in London; the series would lose no meaning whatsoever if it were to occur into the Lehigh Valley. Everyone has gone through some sort of hardship, just as Harry does. Everyone has had to face his or her fears, just as Ron does. And I think everyone can appreciate Hermione’s brains and beauty to top it all off.

Unlike “Inception,” where the meaning of the film centered on the conclusion, Harry Potter is defined by the means to the end. While fans impatiently wait for the ending of Harry Potter, they do so because they want to see all of his struggles and hardships reach fruition.

The vast majority of the Valley already knows what will happen throughout the next movie, but they want to see their hero triumph for themselves. Whether you prefer The Rave or AMC Theatres (I’ll be at the AMC), you don’t have to wait until the popcorn’s done popping to get excited for what should be a fantastic finish to a legendary legacy.