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GREENSBORO — Nine years ago, the words “Privet Drive” flashed on the silver screen and a man with a long, gray beard appeared on a suburban street awaiting the arrival of a baby wizard.

On Thursday morning, those words again appeared on the big screen at Carousel Luxury Cinemas in Greensboro, and 16 hours later the audience watched that wizard, now grown up, commence his final adventure.

About 40 people sat through a marathon screening of all six Harry Potter films, leading up to the midnight premiere of the seventh and next to last installment, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1.”

“I am quite prepared,” said 17-year-old Lindsey Rose, who showed up with a copy of the book “Deathly Hallows.” “I have my energy drinks. I brought my pillow so I don’t get too stiff. It’s really an epic event. But it’s also bittersweet.”

For $25, theatergoers got to see all the films and received lunch and bottomless cups of popcorn and soda. Many attendees were playing hooky from school and work.

“We’ve read all the books, seen all the movies, and just got back from Orlando where we saw (theme park attraction) the Wizarding World of Harry Potter,” said a Greensboro man who gave only his first name, Mike, because he didn’t want his employer and his son’s school to know where they were.

Based on the novels by J.K. Rowling, the movies have grossed $5.4 billion worldwide, making them collectively the highest-grossing film series of all time. Marathon organizer Joe Scott said he wanted to put on a similar event when the previous installment “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” was released last year.

But it was only with the release of “Deathly Hallows” that Warner Bros. gave the green light.

“They realized that there were some hard-core Harry Potter fans who seriously wanted to watch all the Harry Potter films in one sitting,” he said. “And it’s the movie marathon to end all movie marathons. By the end of this, your butt will be numb, I promise you.”

At the Carousel, the marathon began at 8 a.m. The films average a running time of about 21/2 hours. Theatergoers only had about 5 minutes between showings to go to the bathroom, stretch and refill their concessions. By 3:45 p.m., they had watched only the first three movies.

“I’m not doing too bad,” said Jaysen Buterin, a 34-year-old Web designer from Greensboro. “Just junking up on sugar, that certainly helps. The unlimited soda and coffee has been great. I’m just trying to find the delicate balance of when to switch to beer.”

At 9 p.m., crowds began to file in for the midnight showing. Activities stations were set up, featuring a Hogsmeade Tavern serving alcoholic and non-alcoholic “butter beer,” a wand shop, and a wizarding bookstore. Proceeds from the event will go to Reading Connection, an adult literacy program in Greensboro.

“The Harry Potter books have been magic,” said Marcy Ray, the program’s assistant director. “We’ve had adults come into our program because they wanted to tackle the Harry Potter books.”

Also on hand for the late showing were many young fans.

“I’ve grown up with Harry Potter,” said Steven Barna, a 17-year-old UNCG freshman. “When I was 11, he was 11. Now that I’m 17, he’s 17. It’s very sad to see it end.”

Contact Robert C. Lopez at 691-5091 or robert.lopez@news-record.com