TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The entire Harry Potter (哈利波特) film series will return to the big screen in Taiwan on Friday (Jan. 17). The magical journey began in 2001 with "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone," which sparked a global phenomenon. Some fans fondly associate Slytherin House's snake emblem with the Year of the Snake.
The films feature a star-studded cast, including Michael Gambon and Richard Harris as Dumbledore, Maggie Smith as Professor McGonagall, and Alan Rickman as Snape. These characters, along with others like Hagrid and Filch, have garnered a devoted fan base. The spells from the series, such as "Expelliarmus" and "Expecto Patronum," have become part of Taiwan's cultural lexicon.
Chris Columbus, known for directing "Home Alone," directed the first installment, which received critical acclaim and three Oscar nominations and grossed over $1 billion worldwide. The film's distributor held an advance screening at the Ambassador Theatre's (國賓大戲院) 60th-anniversary charity festival on Wednesday, where fans expressed nostalgia.
Taiwanese theaters will offer a marathon screening of all eight films, with some featuring 4DX effects like moving seats and environmental elements. Pre-sale tickets are selling briskly, with buyers eligible for exclusive movie posters. IMAX pre-sale ticket purchasers for "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" can receive a 20th-anniversary poster. For more details, fans should contact participating theaters.
