KIRKSVILLE, MO. -- Harry Potter fans across the country are anxiously awaiting midnight.

That's when the sixth installment of the Potter movies, "Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince,’ hits theaters.

Fans started lining up for tickets at 7 a.m. Tuesday at the Downtown Cinema 8 in Kirksville; not even the rainy weather could keep them away.

Tickets were scheduled to go on sale at 11 a.m., but there were so many people in line, theater officials started selling them shortly after 10:30 a.m. The midnight show sold out in a matter of minutes.

Many of those in line were purchasing large numbers of tickets. Only about the first half of those who waited in line for hours actually got in for the midnight show.