Fans Swarm Theaters To See Potter

(AP)  Fans are packing theaters for the new Harry Potter movie.

The fourth film in the series is called "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" and it's had an early sendoff with special midnight showings in select theaters around the country.

Fandango, the nation's largest movie ticketing service, says the new PG-13 rated episode has accounted for more than 90 percent of its advance ticket sales this week, making it the fastest selling of the Potter flicks.

It's also the best draw since "Star Wars: Episode Three-Revenge of the Sith" opened this summer.

The new Potter flick's been getting good reviews. The film tells how the young wizard, now in his fourth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, is selected to compete in the Quidditch Triwizard Tournament against older and more experienced students from rival schools. Fandango's CEO says the buzz about the fourth Potter film has been "tremendous."

"Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire" was the fastest-selling book in history on the first weekend of its publication in July 2000. The films of the first two books grossed more than $1.7 billion worldwide.

Author J.K. Rowling has now completed six of the seven Potter books she promised her young readers.