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SALT LAKE CITY -- Utahns have had a love affair with the Harry Potter series since its inception, and opening night of the final installment of the "Deathly Hallows" was one romantic evening indeed, as it were.
On opening night, Utah had the top three theaters in overnight box office for the eighth Harry Potter movie. All three were run by Megaplex Theatres - Jordan Commons in Sandy, The District in South Jordan, and The Gateway in Salt Lake City, which came in first, second and third respectively.
Final numbers are not yet in, but the preliminary counts back up this order, according to Jeff Whipple, a PR representative for Megaplex Theatres. He said that Utah may have topped the list in part because of families who attended the event as a group, as well as a long standing passion for the magical universe.
In a display of that passion, prior to the finale opening, approximately 300 people braved, or perhaps reveled in, a 20-hour marathon showing of all the Harry Potter films.
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