At $7.7 billion, the Harry Potter series is the third-highest-grossing film franchise in history and the most-watched franchise in television broadcast history. As of February 2020, two of the eight films still rank in the top 50, including Sorcerer’s Stone (2001) at No. 47 and Deathly Hallows – Part 2 (2011) at No. 13. Sorcerer’s Stone, 2005’s Goblet of Fire, and Deathly Hallows – Part 2 were the highest-grossing films in the year of their release, while the remaining five were in the top three. Many big names in British cinema, such as Helena Bonham Carter, Jim Broadbent, John Cleese, Robbie Coltrane, Warwick Davis, Ralph Fiennes, Richard Griffiths, Richard Harris, Sir John Hurt, Jason Isaacs, Miriam Margoyles, Helen McCrory, Gary Oldman, Alan Rickman, Dame Maggie Smith, David Thewlis, Dame Emma Thompson, and Dame Julie Walters, are associated with the series.
It took ten years, two screenwriters, four directors, four composers, 208 actors, and an army of crew members to complete the Harry Potter series. Together, the films have won 3 BAFTAs and been nominated for 25 BAFTAs, 5 Grammys, and 12 Academy Awards. As a whole, they have been recognized by the American Film Institute with a special award, by the Art Directors Guild for Contribution to Cinematic Imagery, and by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts for Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema.
Director David Yates also won the Britannia Award for Artistic Excellence in Directing at the BAFTA Los Angeles Britannia Awards for Movies 5-8, while David Heyman received the Special Achievement in Filmmaking award from the National Board of Review for “The Harry Potter Franchise – A Distinguished Translation from Book to Film.” In spite of all this, the series has never won an Academy Award.
Filming for the series began in September 2000 and ended on December 21, 2010.
All eight films were produced by David Heyman.
Stuart Craig and Stephenie McMillan designed the sets for all eight films.
There are thirteen actors that have appeared in all eight films: Robbie Coltrane, Tom Felton, Rupert Grint, Joshua Herdman, Matthew Lewis, Devon Murray, James Phelps, Oliver Phelps, Daniel Radcliffe, Alan Rickman, Geraldine Somerville, Emma Watson, and Bonnie Wright.
J.K. Rowling insisted that the principal cast be kept British and the films filmed in the UK. She was given a great deal of creative control.
There are a number of characters in the books who were left out of the movies, including Ludo Bagman, Professor Cuthbert Binns, Mr. Borgin, Sir Patrick Delaney-Podmore, Marietta Edgecombe, Marvolo Gaunt, Merope Gaunt, Morfin Gaunt, the Muggle Prime Minister, Karkus, Augusta Longbottom, Peeves, twenty-something-year-old Tom Riddle, Hepzibah Smith, Ted Tonks, and Winky.
Together, the films are 19 hours, 39 minutes long.
Out of the films have emerged a group of young actors and actresses J.K. Rowling has deemed "The Big Seven": Bonnie Wright, Tom Felton, Rupert Grint, Matthew Lewis, Evanna Lynch, Daniel Radcliffe, and Emma Watson.
