"Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" is rated PG, toned down from the PG-13 ratings of two previous "Harry" films -- "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" (2004) and "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" (2005).

Review: Paul's Entertainment Blog: 'Harry Potter' Magical

Still, the Motion Picture Association warns of scary images and some violence.

"If kids have anxiety and see a disturbing image, it imprints in the brain and they can't get away from it," Carol Juergensen of Indianapolis Psychiatric Associates told 6News' Julie Pursley.

She recommends parents of young children watch the film first if they're concerned.

"It's OK to be the bad guy. If you're a parent who decides my child is prone to anxiety, has trouble sleeping at night, is afraid of storms, is afraid of certain games, it's OK to say no to your child and know you're doing the best thing for him or her," she said.

A Purdue University professor said the latest Potter movie may give parents an opportunity to talk to children about grief after a significant character dies in the sixth film.

"Author J.K. Rowling isn't afraid to talk about death and dying, and she has done a good job handling grief in the Harry Potter series," said Heather Servaty-Seib, a counseling psychologist and association professor of educational studies. "Her characters and storylines show that grieving is idiosyncratic, and that's good because it is unique to each person."

But some fans said they aren't looking for any deeper meaning; they're just excited to see the next Potter installment.

"Me and my girlfriends are getting together to get dressed up as all the Hogwarts girls and doing our hair together. So it's going to be really fun," said Kaitlin Williams, who already had her tickets Tuesday morning.

According to MovieTickets.com, "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" has already outsold seven of the top 10 ticket sellers of all time.