Harry Potter comes to an end

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - It's been ten years of bliss for millions (maybe billions) of worldwide fans of Harry Potter .

But it's now coming to an end. The release of Deathly Hallows Part 2 brings to a close what has become perhaps the most successful movie franchise in big screen history.

In 2001, with the release of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, the books of J.K. Rowling came to life. Rowling had her first book published in 1998, when she was on welfare in England. Now, she's the worlds first billionaire female author.

Fans in Fort Wayne waited in line almost 16 hours to view the midnight showing. Rave Motion Pictures offered the movie on all 18 screens at 12:01 Friday morning. 3,500 people attended the midnight showing, thousands more over the weekend. Rave is showing the movie in 2D, 3D, and IMAX. The final Harry Potter movie is the only movie to be released in 3D.

Harry Potter's first seven movies have grossed around $6-billion, more than the Star Wars series, Indiana Jones, and James Bond.

Below is a list of showtimes for area theaters:

Carmike Cinemas on Dupont Road

Rave Motion Pictures at Jefferson Point

Regal Cinemas at Coldwater Crossing

Northwood Cinema Grill

Starplex Cinemas at Coventry

NCG in Auburn

Bones Theatre in Columbia City

Goodrich Huntington 7