Harry Potter is one of the most successful fantasy franchises of all time, if not the most successful. It has sold more than 500 million copies world-wide, which is simply incomprehensible. On top of this, it did incredibly well on the big screen, with the movies based on the books being some of the best fantasy movies ever made and doing justice to the work of J.K. Rowling. The adventures of Harry, Ron, and Hermione would change literature forever and capture the minds of young people and adults around the world. Rowling knew exactly what she was doing when she gave her characters the personalities they had. They were funny, likable, and most important of all, relatable. Harry was the nervous new kid at school who made friends with the unpopular kids. Hermione was the bookworm who knew everything. The audience could all see a piece of themselves in this group.
The first generation that was introduced to the adventures of the Harry Potter books felt as though it was something fresh and different to other novels at the time. The characters spoke in a more modern way that helped the new generation relate to and connect with them. The incredible rise in popularity of the books meant that not too long after their initial publication, Hollywood came knocking, and the first movie was released to the big screen in 2001. The movie swiftly made its way to a billion-dollar box office and utterly changed the lives of the actors who played Harry (Daniel Radcliffe), Ron (Rupert Grint), and Hermione (Emma Watson).
There have been many movies and games that have allowed fans of the series to delve deeper into the stories that the books made so popular. For those fans that have followed the franchise forever, there is a new Harry Potter inspired game that allows you to adventure through the wizarding world in incredible detail and create your own witch or wizard. You can learn about defense against the dark arts and how to brew potions just as they were done in the books and movies. You will be able to explore some of your favorite places, such as Hogsmeade and the forbidden forest, and tell your own story in the wizarding world.
The popularity of Harry Potter and the wizarding world brought about the creation of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, as the original Harry Potter series began its life as a book and then made its way to the big screen. This spin-off series, although amazing in its own right, didn’t quite garner the same attention and appeal as the original. But then again, nothing will probably live up to the hype that was the original series. It was the first of its kind to garner such worldwide attention and popularity, something that will likely be incredibly difficult, if not impossible, to recreate.
The Harry Potter books were so important and special to so many people when they were growing up. For young kids, it showed them the power of working together, as the group always helped one another get out of tricky situations. It showed us the power of being true to oneself and never wavering in the face of adversity. For most, it was an escape into a fantastical world where anything was possible and shaped how a generation of readers would think about novels of this genre as well as what they would begin to expect from them. For those that haven’t read the books, it is strongly recommended to delve into the world, and for those who have and are now all grown up and having kids of their own soon, remember the magic the books brought you and try to pass it on.
