Big fans of Harry Potter pulled out their favorite Hogwart costumes and headed to the movie theater last night for the midnight opening of the final episode in the series – “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2.”

Since 2001, with the introduction of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, J.K. Rowling’s novels have become blockbuster hits. The series of eight movies has been quite successful at the box office with worldwide gross earnings of more than $6 billion. In its opening night, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 opened in 26 countries and grossed more than $43.6 million placing, 86 percent better than Part 1 fared. It broke the record for the biggest opening day gross in history in 10 different countries and this was all while most Loudoun county residents were sleeping! [Editor's note: Stats are based on numbers posted on Wikipedia.]

The eighth film in this series is the shortest of all the Potter movies at two hours and ten minutes, and is rated PG-13. Moviegoers can watch in traditional 2-D or go for the upgraded 3-D version.

The story follows Harry Potter on a quest to find and destroy Lord Voldemort’s remaining Horcruxes. The film stars Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter alongside Rupert Grint and Emma Watson as Harry’s best friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, respectively. The supporting cast features Ralph Fiennes, Michael Gambon, Alan Rickman, Helena Bonham Carter and Maggie Smith.

After a decade of Potter movies, the series has come to a crashing halt and has left some fans not knowing exactly where to turn next. The Potter stories, books and movies have been central to popular culture for 14 years. Many youngsters don’t even know a world without Harry Potter.

As a big fan of Harry Potter, Sterling resident Joanne Means was awake at midnight to say goodbye to one of her favorite series.

“I thought it was brilliant,” she said. “It was beautifully shot and lots of humor that I didn't expect. Ralph Fiennes was in fine form. I think it was his best Voldemort performance.”

If you missed the midnight showing, there’s still time to catch a show. Potter fans can find the movie locally at Regal Countryside in Sterling, Regal Fox Stadium 16 in Ashburn and Tally Ho in Leesburg. Both Regal locations offer the film in 2-D and 3-D.