SHANGHAI, Aug. 11 -- "HARRY Potter and the Order of the Phoenix," the fifth installment in the series, opens for Chinese movie buffs today, a month after its premiere in North America.

And local cinemas are braced for a rush.

"We took in more than 10 million yuan (US$1.3 million) each from the first four Harry Potter movies," said Wu Hehu, deputy director of Shanghai United Cinema Lines, the city's largest theater chain.

"The movie will become another box-office hit this summer following the live-action robot blockbuster 'Transformers'."

In addition to the dubbed version and the English version with Chinese subtitles, Yonghua Cinema is also presenting six extra-high-definition digital screenings each day to highlight the movie's stunning special effects.

"The movie has such a large and loyal fan base and its magical storyline caters to the tastes of the whole family," said Li Lan, manager of Yonghua Cinema, which was formerly called Paradise Warner Cinema City.

Peace Cinema, near People's Square, is showing the movie on its 15-meter by 20-meter IMAX 3D screen.

The theaters said people have been calling to check the movie's schedule.

"Over previous years the Harry Potter series has provided us so much fun and has even influenced my generation," said local university student Wang Yidou, a Harry Potter fan.

In this fifth installment, again featuring Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint, Harry Potter's warning about Lord Voldemort's return is derided.

Potter and Dumbledore are targeted by the wizard authorities as an authoritarian bureaucrat slowly seizes power at Hogwarts.