Ocala IMAX theater to screen ‘Harry Potter’ marathon

Next week, fans of the wizarding world of “Harry Potter” will be able to binge-watch the entire movie series on an IMAX screen.

Starting Oct. 13, the Regal Hollywood Stadium 16 & IMAX in Ocala, located at 2801 SW 27th Ave., will screen all eight of the series’ movies for a week, along with a peek at the “Harry Potter” spinoff “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them,” set for a Nov. 18 release.

Individual tickets cost $6, and one-day passes cost $20, Chris Newman, a Regal Cinemas public relations coordinator, wrote in an email.

John Muia, a 19-year-old UF accounting sophomore, said he has been a fan of “Harry Potter” for most of his life, but he isn’t willing to drive 40 minutes to the Ocala theater for the movie marathon.

“It would be awesome if I could just drive five minutes down Archer (Road) and watch the movies on a big screen like I did as a kid,” he said.

Because the national campaign is a partnership between Warner Bros. Entertainment and IMAX, only those theaters with IMAX capabilities are participating, which excludes both Gainesville Regal Cinemas locations.

Lily Jantarachota, a UF architecture freshman who has seen every “Harry Potter” movie and read every “Harry Potter” book, said watching the movies in a theater would make her feel like a kid again.

“I don’t have a car, but I’m going to ask some of my friends if they want to drive to Ocala if they’re interested,” the 17-year-old said.