'Potter' finale sets box-office records

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BURBANK, Calif., July 13 (UPI) -- Hollywood's Warner Bros. Pictures says "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows -- Part 2" has set box-office records days before it opens in theaters.

"Hallows" is the eighth and final installment in the blockbuster fantasy film franchise. It is set for release Friday.

Dan Fellman, president of the studio's domestic distribution, said Wednesday advance ticket sales already have skyrocketed to more than $32 million, setting a new pre-opening record.

Many midnight and first-day show times are already sold out across the United States, even though the movie will be showing on more than 11,000 screens in 4,375 locations -- both marking records for the Harry Potter series -- with more than 3,800 locations screening the film at midnight Thursday.

Breaking another industry record, the film is being released on 274 IMAX screens nationwide, Warner Bros. noted.

The first Harry Potter movie released in 3-D will be shown at more than 3,000 locations.

"We appreciate the loyalty of Harry Potter fans and understand that they have been waiting 10 years for this moment," Fellman said in a statement. "We can't wait to show them the movie, which we believe delivers on every level, so we are putting the film out on as many screens as possible in an effort to satisfy demand from coast to coast. We want to ensure that fans who have been counting down to the finale will have every chance to see it, early and often, and we hope that they will take advantage of the opportunity to watch all their favorite characters in 3-D for the first time, which is an experience not-to-be-missed."