Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban went on general release today, with the film immediately appearing to emulate the success of its two predecessors.

Queues were forming outside the Odeon at Douglasfield, Dundee an hour before the cinema opened this morning, with a few would-be wizards even dressing up in full Harry Potter garb for the occasion.

Marketing team leader, Graham Duff said the Odeon had taken around 2000 advance bookings for the film, with the movie going out on three screens today.

“It really is amazing but it’s a bank holiday as well so we were expecting it to be really busy,” he said.

“Unlike down south, the kids here are only off for one day, so this will help keep it busy over the next few days, into the weekend and then next week as well.

“There was a big queue when I turned up at nine this morning for our first screening an hour later, but we’ve taken some 2000 advance bookings in all for today plus everyone else who turns up.

“We’ve also seen a lot of adults in the queue as well, which fits with this film being a lot darker than the first two.”

Fang the Dog, star of the first two films in the series, was also on hand at Douglasfield to welcome fans desperate to get their first glimpse of the new movie.

Potter-mania also had the Dundee public firmly in its grip at the UGC Camperdown.

Business manager Richard Henderson said staff were gearing up for a brisk day and expected the latest flick to outperform the first two in the series.

“With the new Harry Potter film and The Day After Tomorrow, Troy and Van Helsing all still doing well, we are expecting today to be our busiest of the year,” he said.

“The 9 o’clock showing wasn’t sold out, but the 10 o’clock one was and we are hoping at least 3000 people will come to see Harry Potter today. We’ll be showing the film on three screens today such is the demand.”