by Natalie Allen

As the clock strikes midnight, the audience feels a fluttering ecstasy. They are part of a ritual as old as cinema itself; rejoicing amidst like-minded film fanatics as their long wait reaches its end. The film will leave them breathless and sleepless; and honestly, they couldn’t care less. They are the watchers of the midnight movie.

“Your mind is the scene of the crime”: Inception by Christopher Nolan.

The mind-boggling blockbuster hit the box offices hard, grossing nearly $60.4 million by the the weekend’s end.

“It had Leonardo DiCaprio who is my favorite man. I’d do anything for my man,” junior Amanda Jones said.

Jones saw the movie at the stroke of midnight on July 15. For the Leo fanatic, being one of the first to see her favorite actor in action proved an unforgettable experience.

“I was still reeling about it. I got home super late and just stayed up thinking about it,” she said.

The 148 minute long movie was a blissful trip for Jones and, despite the gratuitous break of curfew involved, her parents don’t mind indulging in her Dicaprio obsession.

“They just joke around and make fun of me sometimes,” she said. “I can’t help that I’m practically in love with his acting.”

Sleep loss and the groggy morning afters aren’t all bad, so long as you can remember the plot the next day.

“The intensity of going out after dark and seeing it keeps me awake,” junior Abe Briones said.

The upcoming showing of Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows Part I is on Briones’ list of must-see midnight showings this year.

“I’ve read all the books. I can’t wait to see Emma Watson. She’s hot, wait no, pretty, wait no, gorgeous!” he raved, concluding, “Her accent is really nice.”

The heroic trio consisting of Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint venture on a another journey in the upcoming sequel to the fan-favorite series. Their search for the mysterious ‘lost horcruxes’ has proved an effective draw for late-night moviegoers.

“This movie is going to be awesome and worth the midnight wait,” said Briones.

Deathly Hallows premieres on Nov. 19, or if you  want to try the theatrical nightlife on for size, on Nov. 18 at midnight. And the thrill of a premiering film will undoubtedly bring late-night audiences to join you.

“I can honestly say going to midnight movies is a lifestyle choice of mine. I can’t say it was a bad one either,” assures Jones.