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Seventh Harry Potter Movie Premieres

“The beginning of the end” in London.

The first part of the final Harry Potter movie premiered Thursday night in London, marking the “beginning of the end” of the endlessly popular—and money-making—franchise. Star Daniel Radcliffe, who’s played the young wizard Harry Potter for the past 10 years, said “it’s incredible, after 10 years of this, that the franchise still has the power to pack Leicester Square.” At least 7,000 fans packed outside London’s Leicester Square Odeon Theatre, where the first movie premiered nine years ago. “We’re kind of adults now,” said Rupert Grint, who plays Harry’s best friend, Ron Weasley. “I’m going to miss Hogwarts.” Early reviews of the movie trickled out Thursday night, with The Guardian calling it “lacking in wit, warmth and humanity” and The Telegraph called it the “scariest Potter film so far.” Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part I will premiere in the U.S. on Nov. 19.