What was so popular about this franchise that led it to surpass Star Wars as the highest grossing film franchise of history. Was it the British children? Was it the special effects? Was it the love of hot chicks or the hatred for gingers? Who knows? certainly not I!!
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone took the country by storm. It grossed $850 million+ in its entire theatrical run. T-shirts, hats, scarves, robes, wands, glasses, bra's, panties, tattoo's of any kind, mugs, cups, plates, school supplies, cars, trains, planes, space satellites! It seems like everything was now being licensed by the Harry Potter franchise. Harry Potter became not only an adolescent sensation, but he also became a marketing legend. It was only 362 days until the franchise continued...
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets was released just a little less than a year later, and was just as successful. Like holy shit, this film was intense. It was just as family oriented as the first one, but this one included some darker tones, like sabotage and murder. Lot's of things played a key role in Harry's second confrontation with Lord Voldemort. The basilisk scene was action-packed, and really the whole movie is memorable.
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban came two years later in 2004. Here, the tones of the films would change forever. Gone was the bright, colorful atmosphere of the first two films, gone was the happiness, gone was the lovable magic, now we've entered THE PLOT. This film sets the tone for the next five films as it is dark, creepy, and somewhat terrifying. That werewolf scene was some creepy stuff, and the whole thing with the dementer's? Again, pretty scary. But now, the whole series was in full swing as another film came to us a year later.
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire was released in 2005, and was known as the start of the resurrection of Voldemort. Seriously, the whole Triwzard Tournament thing all seemed like uninteresting bullshit once Lord Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes) came on screen. Once Voldemort was resurrected, it was like "stop the presses! this is hot stuff!". The duel between Harry was short lived, leading us to demand more. Luckily in 2007, our wishes were satisfied.
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix was released in 2007. It continued the whole story arc of Voldemort pursuing Harry and hating on the muggles yaddi-yadda. But it also introduced the Order of the Phoenix, the secret group created during Voldemort's first reign of terror to silence the dark lord. Harry uses the Order as the inspiration to create "Dumbledore's Army", a group of wizards at Hogwarts who defy the new cruel Professor Umbridge. In the finale, they fight the Death Eaters in the Ministry of Magic and all is not done yet...
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince came in 2009. Now, we knew we were in for a treat. When Harry returns to Hogwarts for a sixth year, he comes across a book written by "The Half-Blood Prince". Over the course of the film, Death Eaters attack crucial places for Harry, hurting him personally, but after learning the Prince's spells, Harry feels prepared. The film climaxes during the discovery of the horcruxes, and the death of Dumbledore at Snape's hand. This led all the way to the two-part epic finale to the whole franchise...
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 came in the Fall of 2010. Harry, Ron, and Hermione drop out of Hogwarts to hunt down and destroy the remaining horcruxes. Over the course of the movie, Ron and Hermione develop a love relationship, as does Harry and Ginny Weasley. Harry and his friends destroy two or three horcruxes during the movie, and the film leaves off where Voldemort finds Dumbledore's grave and takes the Elder Wand from him.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 came just this past Friday. Boy was it a blast. The epic finale to the whole franchise, Harry and the members of the Hogwarts students and staff defend the school from Lord Voldemort and his death eaters for the final time. It all climaxes (SPOILERS!) when Harry finally kills Voldemort and ends his reign of terror forever.
The Harry Potter film franchise continues to be loved and cherished by audiences everywhere. With the second part of the final film still in its theater run, we can only watch as soon, the franchise will be gone forever. Of course I believe Harry Potter will be back, in the form of a completely CGI remake franchise 50 years down the road when actors are considered obsolete. Still, you can't wonder how the story telling will differ from the way the the stories were told in film this time. Will they change things? Will they create new things? Will they not change a thing? Who knows! It's crazy to think that such a powerful franchise is done for now. But I know it will be back, as JK Rowling is currently working on a project known simply as "Pottermore". What is Pottermore? I don't know, but it has been the most sought after topic on Google and Yahoo! I guarantee that. Whatever Pottermore is, and whenever it's coming to us, we will be waiting. It will no doubt be made into another movie, but that would only prove how strong the franchise is, and it will continue to be strong for years to come...
Harry Potter franchise
(2001-2011)
Happy Ten Year Anniversary
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