Today marks a special day for Harry Potter fans worldwide. The franchise started with Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone and has now turned three decades old.
Why are Harry Potter fans celebrating today?
On June 26, 1997, the first Harry Potter book from author J.K. Rowling was officially published. Today marks the 29th anniversary of the magical franchise, with fans celebrating the wizarding world and the Boy Who Lived.
While the first book was released 29 years ago, the first film adaptation arrived in theaters in 2001. The film’s title was changed to Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone in the United States. Following that, every book was adapted to film over the course of 10 years. The final book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, was split into two parts for its film adaptation.
The move sparked a short-lived trend of splitting final instalments of many young adult novel adaptations into two parts, including Twilight, The Hunger Games, and even Divergent, though the final instalment of the latter was never released.
Collectively, the books have sold over 600 million copies worldwide, with the final book becoming one of the fastest-selling books in history. The movie franchise has grossed over $9.6 billion worldwide, including the three Fantastic Beasts movies. The franchise has spawned several video games, audiobooks, theme parks, and stage plays. The 2024 video game Hogwarts Legacy sold over 40 million copies across PC and consoles. While Deathly Hallows was the final book, a stage play called Harry Potter and the Cursed Child acted as its sequel, following the adventures of Albus Severus Potter, Harry’s son, at Hogwarts.
While the movies may have ended, the franchise is getting a reboot as a TV series at HBO. The first season of the new series will adapt the first book, and is scheduled to release in Christmas 2026.
