'Harry' Still Working Magic on Area Theaters, Booksellers

After years of films and wizardry, Harry Potter still has the magic touch.

Like every other film in the series, the Friday premiere of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part Two" has brought increased excitement and profits for local businesses. Movie theaters and booksellers in the D.C. region overwhelmingly are reporting the hype is true.

Cinemas across the country are offering midnight and early morning premieres of the film, and tickets are hard to come by. At Regal Germantown Stadium 14, the midnight premiere is sold out in seven theaters. Two 3-D showings at 3 a.m. have limited tickets available as of press time Thursday. 

At Regal Cinemas Countryside Stadium 20 in Sterling, Va., 10 of the theaters are being used for tonight's midnight premiere, in both 3-D and regular showings. Only two of the theaters have a few seats left as of press time. The United Artists Snowden Square Stadium 14 in Columbia, Md., has sold out 10 theaters for the midnight showing, but still has two theaters available for the 3 a.m. viewing.

While fans flock to theaters dressed as their favorite characters, others have been brushing up on their "Harry Potter" knowledge for weeks.

"There has been an increase in the check-out of 'Harry Potter' materials in all formats — books and DVDs," said Michele Sellars, spokeswoman for Montgomery County Public Libraries — which see more traffic when Harry and the gang hit the big screen.

She said some library customers are reading the entire series again to prepare for the new film, while others have never read the series but are starting with the first volume. The Bethesda and Marilyn J. Praisner branches of the library are out of copies, and all other branches have limited copies available.

Booksellers have seen a spike in "Harry Potter" related sales.

"We have seen an increase in the sale of 'Harry Potter' merchandise recently, as we have when all of the 'Harry Potter' movies were released," said Mary Amicucci, vice president of children's books for Barnes & Noble.