Harry Potter Film Series Release Timeline
The eight main Harry Potter films, based on the book series by J.K. Rowling, were released between 2001 and 2011. The first film, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, premiered in the United Kingdom on November 4, 2001, and in the United States on November 16, 2001. The final film in the core series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2, was released on July 15, 2011. The franchise is owned by Warner Bros. Pictures, a division of Warner Bros. Discovery, with production by Heyday Films and 1492 Pictures for the earlier entries. The series earned over $7.7 billion worldwide at the box office, making it one of the highest-grossing film franchises, according to data from Forbes.
The films were distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures in most territories, with the original UK theatrical releases handled by Warner Bros. UK. The home media releases, including Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD, are managed by Warner Bros. Home Entertainment. The Harry Potter films are currently available on streaming platforms including HBO Max in the United States and Sky Cinema and Now TV in the United Kingdom. Warner Bros. Discovery has continued to invest in the franchise through merchandise, theme park attractions at Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi and The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, and re-releases in IMAX and other premium formats.
Upcoming Harry Potter Television Series
Warner Bros. Discovery announced a new Harry Potter television series for HBO Max, with production set to begin in 2025. The series will adapt the seven main books in the Harry Potter universe and is expected to run for multiple seasons. J.K. Rowling will serve as a producer on the project, alongside Warner Bros. executives and the original film producers David Heyman and Lionel Wigram. The series will be developed as a long-form dramatic adaptation, distinct from the eight feature films released between 2001 and 2011.
The HBO Max Harry Potter series is expected to premiere in the mid-2020s, with Warner Bros. Television handling production. The series will be developed under the Warner Bros. Discovery global content strategy, which prioritizes flagship franchises for its streaming platform. HBO Max, now rebranded as Max in some regions, is the primary streaming home for the new series. The project was confirmed by Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav and other executives at investor presentations and industry events, as reported by Bloomberg.
Harry Potter Franchise Revenue and Ownership
The Harry Potter franchise generates revenue through multiple streams including film box office, home entertainment, book sales, merchandise, and theme parks. The book series has sold over 600 million copies worldwide, making it the best-selling book series in history. The films have been supplemented by spin-off films including Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, and Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore, which are set in the same wizarding world. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter theme park areas are located at Universal Studios Florida, Universal Studios Hollywood, and Universal Studios Japan.
Warner Bros. Discovery is the primary rights holder and commercial manager of the Harry Potter film and television properties. The Harry Potter books are published by Bloomsbury in the United Kingdom and Scholastic in the United States. The franchise is