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Which Harry Potter Book is the Best? Harry Potter Books Ranked!

The harry potter books ranked.

By: Preston Simmons | Written: December 28, 2021

Harry Potter and the Order of The Books

The Harry Potter series by J.K Rowling is one of the most influential literary series in modern history. As of the end of 2021, each of the books appears in the most sold books of all time list, so it’s not a stretch to say that the name Harry Potter is known throughout the world in some way, shape, or form.

As you know, the Harry Potter series comprises seven books in total (sorry, Cursed Child , but you don’t make the cut). The series in order is comprised of these books:

• Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone
• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
• Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

Each of these books is beloved by many, and if you go to any Harry Potter Trivia night or Fanclub, it probably won’t take long to overhear an argument about which of these seven books is the best in the series or which is the worst.

Arguments could be made for each book regarding which one deserves the spot as the best of the bunch. However, just like the end of the House Cup, there can be only one winner.

So, which one is the best? Let’s find out.

RELATED: Do you consider yourself a Harry Potter superfan? Test your magical knowledge with the Harry Potter Trivia Quiz covering all seven books! Do you think you can get a perfect score?

*Caution: some spoilers for series ahead*

#7 – Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone

Number 7 in the Harry Potter Books Ranked is Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone , which started it all. By far, book one in the series is the most different of all the books. From J.K Rowling’s prose to the characters and the world-building, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone is the most child-friendly book in the series. That makes sense, considering that the main protagonists are eleven-year-olds in this book. Although the book is the shortest in the series, it is also the hardest to get through during multiple re-reads.

The problem with Philosopher’s Stone compared to the other books in the series is that it verges too much in the middle-grade genre and is just too simple. As a stand-alone, this book is excellent in establishing the wizarding world, which is the entire point of the novel. It’s not meant to be complicated, it’s meant to be simple enough that a nine-year-old could understand it and one day hope to receive their Letter of Acceptance to Hogwarts on their eleventh birthday.

I would compare this book to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory or James and the Giant Peach (both by Roald Dahl) in that Philosopher’s Stone works as a great book to read to your kids at bedtime. It’s an incredibly creative book, but it cannot really generate in-depth discussion or analysis.

For some, that might be what they like the most about the book. It’s an easy read, perfect for starting and finishing in a single afternoon. For me, though, it’s a book that I just try and get through as quickly as possible so that I can make it to the longer, darker ones in the series.

#6 – Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Number 6 in the Harry Potter books ranked is Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets , the second book in the series. The problems that I brought up with Philosopher’s Stone persist in Chamber of Secrets, albeit lesser. The book is still clearly intended for children and not quite in the young adult genre. Again, this was intended as Rowling wanted to write the books in the style meant to be accessible, this time, for twelve-year-olds, as that’s how old Harry was in his second year.

My main problem with Chamber of Secrets is Gilderoy Lockhart, the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher of the year. In each novel, a new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher is introduced (excluding Half-Blood Prince and Deathly Hallows for plot-related reasons). It is, therefore, the DADA professor that is given the most attention of the teachers in the story.

Of the DADA teachers, Professor Lockhart is the least interesting of the bunch. Throughout the novel, he acts more as comedic relief than a character meant to teach Harry, and in turn, the reader, anything that we hadn’t already known with prior knowledge given to us in Philosopher’s Stone .

Besides Lockhart, of the first two books, Chamber of Secrets is the more enjoyable read, especially regarding re-reads. Elements first introduced in this book like Parseltongue, Horcruxes, and Pensieves are used throughout the series, even if we don’t get the complete picture of what they are until books six and seven.

#5 – Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Number 5 on the Harry Potter books ranked is Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban , book 3 in the series. By now, you might think to yourself that you see a pattern; the worst three books are the first three books. I don’t look at it that way at all. Instead, I like to think that the series continues to get better as the books progress. I’m firmly in the camp that books 4-7 are better than books 1-3. However, of the first three, Prisoner of Azkaban is the best.

From this point on in the series, the books can officially be categorized as Young Adult. Of the first three, Prisoner of Azkaban is the darkest. Dementors are introduced, and so is one of my favorite charms in the entire series, the Patronus.

PoA finally gives the reader some background information on Harry’s parents and introduces us to two of the best characters in the series, Sirius Black and Remus Lupin. Both of these characters are excellent in this book. Lupin is, in my opinion, the best Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher Harry has during his time at Hogwarts. Though Harry doesn’t get much time to interact with Sirius in the book, the short moments they get to talk to one another in PoA are some of the most heartwarming in the series.

My biggest gripe with Prisoner of Azkaban is the Time-Turner. Time magic is a powerful form of magic that probably should not have been introduced in the series. Though Hermione used it throughout the entire book, it was never mentioned again in the rest of the series. Time magic verges too much in Deus Ex Machina territory, even if the series is full of magical things occurring.

#4 – Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Number 4 on the list for the Harry Potter books Ranked is Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix , the fifth book. The Order of the Phoenix is perhaps the darkest book in the series, with arguably one the single greatest villains in Young Adult literature, Dolores Umbridge.

Order of the Phoenix occurs in Harry’s fifth year after Voldemort returns to power. Unfortunately for Harry, the Ministry of Magic is out to make Harry appear like a lunatic and a deranged attention seeker who didn’t actually witness Voldemort come back and is instead lying about what he saw. Half of Hogwarts refuses to believe Harry, and to make matters worse; Dumbledore is seemingly ignoring all of his attempts to talk to him. This, in turn, makes for a highly agitated and angry Harry.

An angry and quick to outburst version of Harry is the theme of this book, and it leads to some intense moments for both him and his friends.

A few chapters in this book make it stand out from the rest of the series. The first I’d like to cover is Dumbledore and Voldemort’s duel at the ministry, and the second is Harry and Dumbledore’s confrontation in Dumbledore’s office immediately after the ministry duel. Both of these chapters showcase the darkness within Harry the best and accumulate the struggles he faced in the previous books.

The confrontation chapter highlights that above all else, at this point in the story, Harry is just a fifteen-year-old teen who is way over his head. The anger and frustration of his circumstances come to a head, and it is here that the prophecy is revealed by Dumbledore, which ultimately is the central conflict for the following two books.

Overall, Order of the Phoenix is a great book that showcases Harry at his lowest point in the series and is also filled with some of the most memorable moments in the entire series.

#3 – Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

Number 3 on the Harry Potter books ranked is Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows , book seven in the series. The epic conclusion to the series, the Deathly Hallows , is almost everything I could have hoped for in a finale.

The stakes had never been higher. The sense of dread and the massive uphill battle Harry was tasked with from chapter one was evident. How could Harry, Hermione, and Ron successfully find the remaining Horcruxes without Dumbledore? How could Harry possibly defeat Voldemort when he now controls the Ministry of Magic? For sure, there is no way he could have done it alone.

The one major flaw I had with Deathly Hallows is that pretty much the entire book, Harry and Ron were thoroughly carried by Hermione throughout their Horcrux hunt. Without Hermione, Harry would have failed on the first day. Sure, Harry and Ron had their moments of glory, but in reality, Hermione was by far the essential member of the group in every other way. If Harry and Ron were equally as helpful to the group as Hermione was, I think the book would have placed higher on the list. Though Harry and Ron proved themselves in critical moments, Hermione was the MVP of the book.

I loved this book because never once did any (side) character feel like they were protected by plot armor, save for Harry because, in a way, he literally was saved by plot armor. Maybe I should say if a character wasn’t part of the main trio, it felt like they could die at any moment. Because of that, I always felt on edge while reading the book, which was great.

Another thing that made this book great was the actual Horcruxes. Each was unique, and the moments where Harry, Ron, and Hermione had to destroy them made for intense sequences.

The Battle of Hogwarts was also everything I could have hoped for. Each character had their moments to shine, and it never felt overly convoluted or confusing. The final battle between Harry and Voldemort was satisfying, and the result did not feel cheaply earned.

Finally, the chapter revealing Snape’s memories was heartbreaking. It didn’t redeem Snape for his abusiveness throughout the series (he’s still a terrible teacher, in my opinion), but it did bring his character into a new light.

Overall, Deathly Hallows was an incredible ending to an amazing series.

#2 – Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Number two in the Harry Potter books Ranked is Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire , book four in the series. For many reasons, Goblet of Fire deserves to be in the top three books in the series.

The first reason why Goblet of Fire is number two in the Harry Potter books ranked list is because out of all the books (besides Philosopher’s Stone ), this book expands upon the wizarding world the most. Here, we are introduced to the Quidditch World Cup, Durmstrang, and Beauxbatons; in other words, wizard culture around the world. The beauty of the wizarding world is that, just like in real life, each geographical location has its own unique wizarding culture vastly different from the English one we had been accustomed to in the previous books.

The second reason Goblet of Fire is second in the Harry Potter books Ranked list is that this one was the most fun out of all the books. Tournaments are always enjoyable events to read about, and the Tri-Wizard Tournament is no exception. Each of the different challenges Harry had to face proved unique and entertaining. What could be more fun than fighting a dragon, exploring a mermaid city, and fighting for your life in an ever-changing maze?

I also loved Mad Eyed Moody as the Defense Against the Dark Arts Teacher and his reveal at the end of the book. Learning about the Unforgivable Curses was the first time the series truly felt like the books were heading in a darker direction than the previous three.

What sets this book apart from the rest, though, is the Graveyard chapter. This is probably one of the top five chapters in the entire series. Voldemort has finally returned to power, and the threat he brings to the wizarding world is shown to its fullest. Before this point, as book readers, we had only heard about how powerful of a wizard Voldemort was. We knew people referred to him as “He who must not be named” but never really understood why so many feared him.

The Graveyard chapter showed that Voldemort is as threatening as everyone said. Not only that, in this chapter, Harry is entirely alone. Yet, despite all of that, his bravery in the face of insurmountable evil showcased how amazing of a protagonist he is.

#1 – Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Number one in the Harry Potter books ranked is Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince , book six. This is, in my opinion, the best Harry Potter book. This book focuses entirely on the best aspects of the series; Harry and Dumbledore’s relationship, Voldemort, and character relationships.

Harry and Dumbledore are the two central pillars for the faction of good in the Potterverse. Harry represents youth and the best of the newest generation of wizards. Dumbledore represents the best that the old wizarding world has to offer. Throughout the series, the relationship between Harry and Dumbledore has always been one of the best aspects of the series.

Dumbledore had always been the father figure that Harry missed in his life. He was the one that always helped Harry when he needed guidance or someone to believe in him. On the other hand, Harry was like the son Dumbledore never had. Dumbledore viewed Harry as the son he never had. He loved Harry in a way he didn’t think was possible.

Though JK Rowling built their relationship from book one, it was only in this book where Dumbledore and Harry truly worked with one another. It was beautiful how JK Rowling brought their relationship to a peak in the Horcrux Cave, showing that finally, Dumbledore and Harry accomplished something extraordinary together. The mentor and student finally worked together as equals, and that maybe, together, defeating Voldemort could be possible. Then, it all comes crashing down for Harry in one of the greatest and iconic chapters in history.

The following reason why this takes the top spot in the Harry Potter books ranked is that we finally learn the story of one of the most interesting villains in literature, Voldemort. We are given pieces of Voldemort’s history in chapters spread throughout the book instead of all at once. Each piece is part of a greater puzzle, and with Harry, we are posed with the question of how did an orphan boy end up the most feared wizard of all time? Was it nature or nurture?

Then the parallels between Harry’s own life and Voldemort’s begin to show. Both were orphans, unaware of their magical heritage. Both were incredibly talented wizards for their young age, and both spoke Parseltongue. And yet, there was one key difference in the pair of them that Voldemort lacked that Harry had.

Finally, this book was the best when it came to the relationships between the characters. Harry and Ginny become a couple, Hermione admitting to being in love with Ron, and Fleur and Bill’s love, to name a few.

The most important reason this book deserves the number one spot is that in Half-Blood Prince, so many questions are answered, and so many plots are resolved. It’s the perfect set-up for the final book, and for that, it is the number one book in the Harry Potter books ranked.

Final Thoughts on the Harry Potter Books Ranked

The Harry Potter series is a masterpiece, and in my opinion, the best young adult fantasy series ever written. Each of the books is incredible in its way and together form the complete story. These books are timeless and will forever hold a special place in millions of readers’ hearts.

If you haven’t had a chance to read the books yet, or have only seen the movies, now is a perfect time to bring some magic into your life.

If you’d like to find all the books in one place, you can find all the Harry Potter books on Amazon by clicking here !

3 thoughts on “Which Harry Potter Book is the Best? Harry Potter Books Ranked!”

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Hello, I am Alexander Howard. Fame is not everything. “The following reason why this takes the top spot in the Harry Potter books ranked is that we finally learn the story of one of the most interesting villains in literature, Voldemort.” I don’t agree with you. Voldemort is one of the dumbest villains and flat in literature. And death eaters are f*ckheads. Good bye and take care, Alexander Howard.

I have to agree with Alexander Howard to a degree. Your statement about Voldemort was quite exaggerated. His back story was pretty shallow.

Anyway, I just wanted to say, that I loved the seven Harry Potter books, and I loved your ranking. #6 was my personal fav, and #4 was my second fav too. Gotta disagree with the rest of your ranking a bit but not vehemently.

I remember waiting for book #5 to release and then it did and all of a sudden everyone acclaimed it to be the best yet. Drove me nuts. I didn’t hate that novel, but it wasn’t as good as everyone said. It was repetitive and slow. I called it then, and I still stand by my call. The book was only called the best because it was the newest. Of course, now that the hype has died down, people are more objective and it is no longer considered the best usually. For me personally, I’d rank from best to least best, as below: #6 #4 #3 #1 #5 #7 #2

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Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone

By j.k. rowling.

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone is one of the most popular children's books ever written. It is a story about the triumph of love and bravery over evil.

About the Book

Article written by Mohandas Alva

M.A. Degree in English Literature from Manipal University, India.

‘ Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone ‘ is a very engaging read for children and adults alike. Since it is the first book in this series, we are introduced to an entirely new world in this book. The world of magic slowly builds itself as we read through the book. The genius of this book is using the protagonist Harry’s discovery of this world to parallel the readers’.

Furthermore, despite several hardships and literally being an orphan who never knew love, Harry still recognizes love and affection when he sees it. While this book is memorable for a plethora of reasons, some elements of Rowling’s writing triumph as winners.

Discovering the Story World and Magic as a Metaphor

J. K. Rowling does a great job writing this story with an omniscient third-person narrative but still keeping the narrator wherever Harry is for a major part of this book. This makes the reader’s fascination and interest in the world of magic as new and real as Harry’s. We are introduced to several facts and significant peculiarities of the world of magic, all of which seem very consistently developed, adding authenticity to it. 

While there are a lot of similarities between the real world and the world of magic, the differences are usually peculiar and downright funny at times. Platform nine and three-quarters, running through a brick wall, ghosts roaming freely and talking to living people, and many other peculiarities add to the charm of creating an interesting story world. One could go on to theorize that calling non-magic people muggles and portraying the Dursleys as ordinary people who hate things like magic has a metaphorical purpose. 

It furthers the cause and appeals to the readers to be more imaginative and creative. Magic is a metaphor for imagination in this case. The Dursleys are scared of anything out of the ordinary. They spend their entire day doing mundane tasks they assign meaning to and criticize almost anything and anyone that doesn’t fit their design.

On the contrary, Harry, despite being ill-treated and not loved by the Dursleys, has a flair for imagination and creativity. It didn’t take very long for him to get used to the wizarding ways, and he very clearly had the potential to do great things after all. This book is, in its essence, an inspiration for readers to make dreams come true and bravely follow their dreams despite obstacles. It is an apt narrative for children who, at their age, tend to discover new things and ideas to develop. 

Good vs Evil and Heroism

The trope of a savior standing up to the tyrant is not new. However, ‘ Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone ‘ being a children’s book, delves into this slowly. When Harry is unaware of magic and thinks that his parents died in an accident, he is a normal child with very little to think about good, evil, and the need for heroism.

However, once he is informed of the actual circumstances of his parents’ death and after discovering magic, he gains new insights, and his worldview significantly changes. His sense of responsibility and the need to stop Voldemort at any cost from getting to the Philosopher’s Stone set the path for his heroism. This transition happens slowly, yet it feels very natural. He doesn’t know what he will do if he faces Voldemort. Despite this naive understanding of the consequences, he still chooses to face Voldemort. 

This portrayal of heroism is quite commendable as it appeals to the very cause of wanting to stop the wrongdoing. The fact that an eleven-year-old boy and his two friends thwart a feared dark wizard from stealing the Philosopher’s Stone in a school that has so many adults who are way more experienced and well-equipped to do it portrays heroism in its purest form. Heroism is more the choice to take action against evil than the ability to stop evil. This book does a good job illustrating this subtlety.

Sacrifice in Harry Potter

Sacrifice is an essential part of this novel. The story of ‘ Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone ‘ uses sacrifice to define both friendship and love. Harry’s parents die because they sacrifice themselves to protect Harry. Ron sacrifices himself while playing Wizard chess. Several people who fought in the war against Voldemort sacrificed themselves for the well-being of the collective community. 

The trope of sacrifice plays a major role in setting up differences in morality between the good and the evil. As Dumbledore points out to Harry, Voldemort does not understand love. The fact that Harry understands love and values it, sets a specific difference in the choices that Harry and Lord Voldemort make.

Harry is willing to sacrifice himself when he takes over the task of protecting the Philosopher’s Stone. On the contrary, Voldemort uses others for his selfish motives. This stark difference between willing to sacrifice oneself and using others as a shield to protect oneself makes all the difference and definitively separates good and evil in this book.

Why was Harry Potter banned?

Harry Potter was banned in a catholic school in Nashville, Tennessee, because of fear of evil spirits. Some other places have also banned Harry Potter books for similar religious fears. Some religious leaders were concerned that the spells and enchantments mentioned in the book were real and that they could summon evil spirits and dark magic.

Is  Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone  worth reading for an adult?

‘ Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone ‘ is definitely worth reading for an adult. While it was written as a children’s book, it has outlived this label, and there are people of all ages who not only read these books but also engage in community discussions and have fun playing games inspired by these books. Many people have found reading this book a very rewarding experience, as is evident from the sales and fame this book has garnered across all demographics.

Should I read  Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone  or watch the movie? 

While the movie is undoubtedly well-made and a thrill to watch, the books are far more detailed and a very thrilling read. Most people who have both read the books and watched the movies always choose the former as a better experience. Furthermore, there are several interesting and amusing characters and scenes in the book that the movie couldn’t incorporate. So, one would be missing out on a lot if one doesn’t read ‘ Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. ‘

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone Review - A Thrilling Read

• Writing Style
• Lasting effect on the reader

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone Book Review

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone by J K Rowling is a thrilling read that hooks the reader from page one. Published in the year 1997, it is one of the highest grossing novels ever written. Some elements of the novel like its elaborate yet accessible world-building makes it a very entertaining read for children and adults alike. It follows the story of an orphan boy named Harry Potter who realizes he is a wizard and the rest of the book records his journey as a young wizard in Hogwarts, a school of magic. This book, and the series as a whole have been a definitive part of an entire generation’s childhood and have garnered very high praise as an entertaining read.

• The plot is entertaining and is a very immersive read.
• Has a lot of early lessons for children on morality.
• The characters are well developed and the story world is well structured and interesting.
• The writing style may be a bit rudimentary for adult avid readers.
• Several instances of Deux Ex Machina make the protagonist’s position very safe and lacking any real danger.
• Some mild instances of body shaming exist within the novel.

About Mohandas Alva

Mohandas is very passionate about deciphering the nature of language and its role as a sole medium of storytelling in literature. His interests sometimes digress from literature to philosophy and the sciences but eventually, the art and craft of narrating a significant story never fail to thrill him.

Cite This Page

Alva, Mohandas " Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone Review ⭐ " Book Analysis , https://bookanalysis.com/jk-rowling/harry-potter-and-the-philosophers-stone/review/ . Accessed 16 April 2024.

The Harry Potter section of Book Analysis analyzes and explorers the Harry Potter series. The characters, names, terminology, and all related indicia are trademarks of Warner Bros ©. The content on Book Analysis was created by Harry Potter fans, with the aim of providing a thorough in-depth analysis and commentary to complement and provide an additional perspective to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

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Harry Potter Books Ranked: The Best & Worst in the Series

• by Sam Howard

Welcome to this list of the Harry Potter books ranked best to worst.

There are a few things in life that you absolutely must know. And one of those include which Hogwarts House you belong to. As a proud Hufflepuff myself, I’d love to welcome you to my little slice of the internet. Today, I’m going to be breaking down J.K. Rowling’s series and giving you the definitive ranking (according to me anyway) of the best Harry Potter books.

Surprisingly, this can be a rather heated subject as everyone has their own and often wildly differing opinions. If you don’t agree with my list, please let me know in the comments below what you’d rank the books! I’m down for some civil debate. Just don’t get too rude or I’ll have to show you the Gryffindor!

So, without further ado, pick up your wands and prepare yourself for the best Harry Potter books ranked!

What is the best Harry Potter book ? Harry Potter ranked best to worst :

• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows
• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
• Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
• Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Every harry potter book ranked comparison chart

Here is my list of every harry potter book ranked in a convenient chart:

Which is the best Harry Potter book? In-depth reviews

1. harry potter and the deathly hollows (best harry potter book).

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In my opinion, Deathly Hollows is the absolute best Harry Potter book. As the last book in the series, it neatly ties together the entire story that the previous six created. For me, it’s the one that grips at my heartstrings the most. You can really feel the emotions run raw as the our trio of heroes (Harry, Ron, Hermione) make their way through the past to discover the best chance at stopping He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. And I’ve got to admit, the Battle of Hogwarts was near perfection.

My biggest gripe about this book: the epilogue. Honestly, it seemed just a rushed and sloppily thrown together. Other than that, this book was a beautiful ending for such a great story.

2. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

It was hard not to put this book at number one. Seriously. I believe this book (the sixth installment) to be the most balanced book in the entire series. You get this throwback to the earlier books through some great lighthearted moments such as the Slug Club. And Rowling really starts to explore the romance side of things here too.

But then…you dive into the darkness of the Potterverse. From the return and story behind Tom Riddle, to learning how Voldemort can be finally defeated, to the shocking plot twist within… This book is amazing.

3. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

The third book in the Harry Potter series does exactly what the second book doesn’t. It really grinds into the true nature of the characters. Prisoner of Azkaban truly laid the foundation for the rest of the series. This was also the last of the “smaller books”. With the release of Goblet of Fire (the fourth installment), the book’s page count jumped over 300 pages. And since Prisoner of Azkaban masterfully developed the basis of the characters, more could be focused on the story in future titles.

Other than just the character development, the story was phenomenal. Although this book has less direct involvement from the Dark Lord, there’s a well-defined narrative that really helps the characters mature into some of the darker elements of the subsequent novels.

4. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Ugh. So this selection has me torn. I really wanted to put this book higher on the list. And yet, I can find a good reason to put it further down. Honestly, when compared to the other books, it just seems slow. Like the story really isn’t really moving. Sure things are happening but like at a snail’s pace.

However, that particular reason is why I want it higher. The slow logging of Order really embraces the plot. It written to be slow because that’s what going on. It’s about planning and events that will ultimately build this war against the dark forces. Not to mention, the book has one of the most dastardly and most-hated villains of all time: Dolores Umbridge.

5. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Ok. Hear me out. Out of all the Harry Potter books, this one is the most fun to me. Not necessarily the best written or the most complex, but fun. And that’s all due to the Triwizard Tournament! The different events, puzzles, and challenges Harry has to endure are just nuts! And it really gets your blood pumping wondering what’s next.

Another aspect of this book I really enjoyed was the introduction of the other wizarding schools. There’s a whole wizarding world in the Harry Potter universe, and this was our first real glimpse into something other than Hogwarts.

6. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone

This is the book that started it all. Yer a wizard, Harry! I just remember reading this book when I was younger and imagining Hagrid coming to get me next! Mind you, I wasn’t forced to live in a cupboard under the stairs, but might have volunteered to do so if we had one. Sorcerer’s Stone as a standalone book is a home run. No doubt about it.

The main reason why it’s towards the bottom of my list is that…this book is just too childish for me compared to the others. Don’t get me wrong, it’s supposed to be. But just like the characters mature throughout the series, so did my tastes.

7. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (The Worst Harry Potter Book)

Although I call this the worst Harry Potter book, it isn’t a bad book by any means. Just compared to the rest of the series… It gets overshadowed. And here’s why I think so.

It really doesn’t add to much depth to the character’s. As the series progresses, each book adds more into the character development. With this one…not so much. It’s like a rehashing of the first book. I think if the Harry Potter series stopped at three books, this would have been a more effective an installment. But in a full seven book series, Chamber of Secrets becomes a weak link.

More info on the best Harry Potter books ranked

There’s a lot more we can talk about when it comes to reading and ranking Harry Potter ranked worst to best. Here are a few additional considerations to make:

What Order Should I read the Harry Potter Books In?

This is a very often asked question. The straightforward answer is…. read them in chronological order . Unlike some literary or cinematic universes (MCU, I’m looking at you), the Harry Potter books need to be read in order. There are so many important plot points and rely heavily on things that happen in previous books.

So, here’s the proper order to read the books:

What’s the difference between the Sorcerer’s Stone and the Philosopher’s Stone?

When searching for the first Harry Potter book, you’re likely to come across two versions.

• Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone

In essence, they are the exact same book. They only have different titles. The original title for the book is Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. However, J. K. Rowling changed the title to Sorcerer’s Stone for American audiences because she thought the US would associate Philosopher’s Stone with some old, boring teacher (i.e. Socrates, Plato–which aren’t not so boring to me) and not magic.

Turned out to be a great move on Rowling’s part.

Hogwarts House Explained

In the Potterverse, Hogwarts students are sorted into respective houses during their first year welcoming feast. These houses are representative of the four original Hogwarts founders being:

• Godric Gryffindor
• Helga Hufflepuff
• Rowena Ravenclaw
• Salazar Slytherin

Now, as far as the books go, you’ll see some common trends. Good guys come from Gryffindor. Bad guys from Slytherin.

But that’s not always the case. Each house values different traits for their members to have. Let’s take a look.

• Gryffindor- Courage, Honor, Bravery, Chivalry, and Reserve. The mascot for Gryffindor is the Lion and is closely affiliated with the element of fire.
• Hufflepuff- Hard Work, Justice, Loyalty, Patience, and Hospitality. The mascot for Hufflepuff is the Badger and is closely affiliated with the element of earth.
• Ravenclaw- Intelligence, Wisdom, Logic, and Creativity. The mascot for Ravenclaw is the Eagle and is closely affiliated with the element of air.
• Slytherin- Ambition, Leadership, Cunning, Drive, and Resourcefulness. The mascot for Slytherin is the serpent and is closely affiliated with the element of water.

The house sorting process is one of the most anticipated parts of each book. It’s performed by using a magical hat known as the Sorting Hat which when placed upon the head can read into a student’s personality and destiny. Once the Sorting Hat’s got a good read, it loudly proclaims for all to hear which house the student will be sorted into.

This doesn’t mean that the student doesn’t have any choice in the matter. During Harry Potter’s sorting, the hat was torn between Gryffindor and Slytherin. Potter would have made a wonderful candidate for Slytherin. He’s pureblood wizard, a born leader, and a parseltongue (aka he talks to snakes). But during his sorting, Harry could only think one thing….Not Slytherin. The hat honored his request, and Harry Potter found his home in Gryffindor.

What’s your favorite Harry Potter book?

As stated at the beginning of the article, I am a Hufflepuff. But just how do I know that?

So what is your favorite Harry Potter book!? I’ve already made it clear that  Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is mine. But obviously these are subjective rankings, so I want to know what you think, and which book was the one that made you first fall in love with the boy who lived.

And if you like this article, maybe you’ll like this one as well:

• Best Book Light

FAQs: Harry Potter books from best to worst

Which harry potter book is the best.

While a subjective question, I believe that  Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is the best Harry Potter book. The stakes are higher than they’ve ever been, it results in huge character growth for all the characters, and it wraps everything up in a tight little package.

What is the worst Harry Potter book?

I believe that Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets is the worst Harry Potter book. However, that’s like saying that vanilla ice cream is the worst kind of ice cream, because ALL ICE CREAM IS GOOD. In other worse, Chamber of Secrets is still good, just not as good.

What is J.K. Rowling’s favorite Harry Potter book?

J. K. Rowling’s favorite Harry Potter book is Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. And that’s not a bad choice. A lot of cool stuff happens in that book, a lot of promises and payoffs that really work, especially with the time travel and everything that goes on there.

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“Harry Potter” Book Series Review

This post is outdated!

When I wrote my original review of the Harry Potter series, I was holding back with regard to some of my criticisms.  With author J.K. Rowling using her considerable influence to spread transphobic propaganda , I feel it’s necessary to criticize both her political views and her work, which glorifies some truly repulsive ideas.

Hogwarts is a school that kidnaps and drowns its students for entertainment.  Their death toll alone makes the average American school look safe by comparison.  The Wizarding World is a society of slaveowners, and yet the author expects us to fall in love with their culture.  The idea that abuse builds character is a central theme in Harry Potter .

Learn about why Harry Potter is really a crime against literature in my new article: Harry Potter, Transphobia, and Slavery Jokes .

In case you are still interested in reading this outdated piece, I’ve provided some helpful footnotes.

If you ask me what I think of J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series, my answer will likely depend on what day you ask me.  Some days I’ll say I liked it, 1 some days I’ll hate it.  In all honesty, however, my feelings towards Harry Potter are best described as “confused,” because there are a lot of things I really like about the series and a lot of things I really hate.  All things considered, I usually wind up mostly ambivalent towards Rowling’s best-known work.

One of my biggest problems with the Harry Potter series is the lack of a consistent tone.  The stories get gradually darker until about halfway through the series, at which point she abruptly changes her target audience from children to teenagers.  As one might imagine if one gives this even a small amount of thought, this shift may have worked in the context of a series that’s still being written 2 , but it’s quite harmful to the longevity of a series.

Whether a conscious decision or not, Rowling’s tone-shift allowed her to keep up with a generation of fans who were growing ever nearer to adulthood; the stories became darker as their target audience grew older.  Having a story grow with the age of its initial fanbase is an interesting idea.  To my knowledge, no one else has tried this, and there’s a very good reason for that: because it’s a short-sighted move.  When future generations start reading these stories from the beginning, they’re not going to wait a year before starting the next book; they’re going to start as soon as they can get their hands on it.  The consequence of this is that when the tone changes mid-series, those who’ve become invested in the tone of the first three books will be jarred out of that investment.

On Divisions

Many stories grow darker as they progress, but this is almost never a conscious decision, and it is therefore a gradual process.  In such cases the target audience doesn’t change.  In Harry Potter, the change happens on a dime around the end of Book Four, alienating anyone who enjoyed the previous three books.  It is therefore possible to divide the Harry Potter series into three distinct groups: the children’s books (consisting of the first three books); those directed at an older audience (consisting of the last three books); and book four, an outlier in that either audience might enjoy it equally (though not so thoroughly as they might enjoy the books in their own preferred block).

I feel Rowling’s decision to change her books’ audience to have been ill-conceived, not least because many adults enjoyed best the first three books.  I also feel the quality of the series peaked with Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets 3 and then began to decline sharply with Order of the Phoenix.

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone

The first book in the series was, in my opinion, really good.  Colourful characters, an enjoyable tone with sufficient darkness, and an interesting world-within-a-world all made The Philosopher’s Stone a really good children’s book for both kids and adults.  Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry was, at this point in the series, a fantastic—if not altogether original—setting. 4   It’s the little details at which Rowling excels, from the floating candles to the food on the table to the frankly ridiculous games her characters enjoy.  That’s not to say there weren’t problems, but they weren’t at all noticeable unless one was searching for them.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

My favourite out of the books in the series was the second, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, because I consider it to be the best-structured of the seven books, with all its compelling sub-plots coming together in the climax.  All the first book’s strengths remain, as well as a greater sense of stakes, an unforgettable Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, and an even better climax with the hero of the story fighting a giant snake with an ancient sword.

Sadly this is also where some of the big problems started.  Harry’s treatment of the house-elf Dobby carries some unpleasant implications, as does Rowling’s decision to use comedically the idea of a slave being forced by his masters to inflict self-harm.  Harry tricking Lucius Malfoy into freeing Dobby at the end was, on the surface, a good scene, but the implication that it is a reward for his help rather than an act in defence of his rights tainted it somewhat.

Despite my mixed feelings about the books and films, the 2002 Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets video game was quite fun. It has a compelling Legend of Zelda æsthetic and a memorable score by composer Jeremy Soule. By far my best memories of the Harry Potter series are of playing that janky old game.

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Prisoner of Azkaban, unsurprisingly, was also really good, considered by many to be the best of the series.  It certainly introduces some of the most interesting characters.  My favourite part is the Marauders’ backstory, told by said interesting characters.  And who could forget the dementors? 5   The climax, in spite of the typically mental time-travel logic, was also great.

Unfortunately Prizoner of Azkaban’s quality suffers somewhat as a result of its context concerning the later books in the series.  You see, the first three books are essentially stand-alone stories, whereas the last four tell a continuous story divided only by the summer holiday.  The problem with this is that Prisoner of Azkaban doesn’t really serve that much of a purpose when it comes to serving the greater story.  All it really does is introduce some great new characters 6 … who won’t really have much to do with the plot henceforth.  In fact, apart from Wormtail resurrecting Voldemort in the following book, these characters all die without having contributed much.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Goblet of Fire is where the series starts to go off, although much of it is enjoyable.  Things like the Unforgivable Curses are introduced here, which makes me wonder whether Rowling hadn’t thought them up till this point; this would prove to be the beginning in a series of ideas that she should have introduced earlier than she did.  This is not to say that the book wasn’t a fun read, but the problems with this one were more noticeable than any problems with the previous three. 7

Among a number of other problems I won’t get into, Goblet of Fire also saw the return of Dobby, which I will elaborate on later in this article.  The climax, although by no means terrible, did end in somewhat of a deus ex machina that could have been prevented by a brief Mad-Eye Moody lecture on Priori Incantatem.  I didn’t think Amos Diggory casting a vaguely similar spell on Harry’s wand at the beginning to show it was possible was enough to excuse this.

Of course, this was the one in which Voldemort returned, and here was where the more-or-less episodic nature of the books changed to a more epic style, something I think worked against the books in the end.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Order of the Phoenix was my least-favourite of the series.  In spite of its status as the longest, so far as I could tell it was mostly filler.  Luna Lovegood is introduced out of bloody nowhere and, despite her being a likeable character, 8 it would have been nice to know she existed at least a book or two before she suddenly became important.  This fifth book serves almost as the “calm before the storm,” but the consequence is that said calm isn’t especially interesting.

The Death of Sirius

The only thing of note that happens in Order of the Phoenix is that Sirius dies at the end, having done very little in the story, all told.  His death scene is a bit confusing where the “Veil” is concerned, and the character of Bellatrix (the one who kills him) had only been properly introduced several pages ago.

Another problem is that everyone in the story has, with this fifth book, become inexplicably stupid.  Every decision they make is so thick-headed that it’s hard not to hate Harry for everything that goes wrong, particularly as he causes the death of a character far more interesting than himself.

The Prophecy

The prophecy that is revealed at the end of the book seemed like it might be leading to a great twist at the end of the series, but it didn’t.  Aside from this, I found the half-poetic nature of it slightly irritating; it’s far from the best-written prophecy I’ve read.  Aside from its sloppy composition, the prophecy reveals at once too much and too little in many of the wrong ways, making it difficult to care about many of the dangers Harry will face in later books.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Half-Blood Prince was better than Order of the Phoenix—way better.  Dumbledore taking Harry under his wing was a breath of fresh air after the great deal of nothing in the previous book.  Most of the sub-plots were interesting, particularly Harry and Dumbledore searching various memories for clues about the horcruxes and unearthing Voldemort’s fascinating backstory in the process. 9   Especially when compared with Order of the Phoenix, Half-blood Prince was compelling, and of the later books it’s quite possibly the best.

The Problems

The problems with this one are relatively small compared to those of the fifth book.  The trend of putting Harry’s importance above the lives of all others continues, summed up with the line, “Your blood is far more precious than mine,” and it becomes annoying at times.

Ron and Hermione

Then there are the people who said that Harry, and not Ron, should have ended up with Hermione.  I really hate agreeing with these people (especially after the idiotic “Zu-tara” relation-shipping craze), but in this case they were actually right!  Ginny isn’t a character; she’s a prop.  In fact, the only female character with whom Harry has a real friendship is Hermione.  Aside from that, the Ron of these later books has increasingly become an unlikeable arsehole, especially as he mocks Hermione for actually having a moral compass and seems to betray Harry at every opportunity.  As much as I hate agreeing with “shippers” like this, Harry and Hermione really should have ended up together, and Ron should have been left at the mercy of some dementors or something!

But again I must say that these problems don’t prevent Half-Blood Prince from being an enjoyable read less of a slog than Order of the Phoenix .  The plot is compelling enough, the backstory is interesting, and the death at the end is far better-handled than the previous one.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

I tend to lose respect for modern authors who employ the tired device of killing a main character’s pet in a lazy attempt to gain pathos points without having to work for them. For another example, see my article on Game of Thrones .  J. K. Rowling begins Deathly Hallows, the grand finale, by doing just that.  As you might expect, Hedwig’s death is predictable, manipulative, and requires no skill to pull off.  I also can’t help but wonder how this would have gone over with the audience of the earlier books. 10

Fortunately, Deathly Hallows has more plot than Order of the Phoenix and Half-Blood Prince put together, and most of the time it’s a fun and compelling read in spite of its flaws. 11   As usual, the best parts are the backstory, whether it’s learning about Dumbledore’s history with Grindelwald or seeing Snape’s childhood through his memories.  By far my favourite part was the Tale of the Three Brothers , a children’s fable of the Wizarding World.  It’s in little stories like this that Rowling’s talent really shines, and I loved how the tale payed homage to Chaucer’s The Pardoner’s Tale .

There are, in my opinion, a lot of things to like about this final volume. 1   Deathly Hallows is very different from Order of the Phoenix in that where the fifth book has one or two really big things wrong with it, the seventh novel has many much smaller problems.  I would say that, along with a great deal more things happening, Deathly Hallows has the most individual things wrong with it of any of the books.  By Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows , the genre is completely detached from that of the first book.

Props Die. Weep, Dammit!

I mentioned earlier the manipulative death of Hedwig the owl, but she is far from the only death in this bloodiest of the series.  This wouldn’t be a problem if the deaths were even a tenth of what might be considered Boromir-quality, but as it is, they make Rowling seem rather lazy.  She uses the deaths of background characters as a way to get an emotional response without doing much work.  Some few of these background props, despite serving little purpose to the plot, are markedly more interesting than the main characters, and the story gets less interesting as each leaves it.

Rowling’s background characters are props—colourful and entertaining props, but props nonetheless. 12   Still she treats them as though they warrant proper character status.  This would be all well and good had they sufficient impact on more important characters, but even Fred Weasley’s death impacts Ron far less than it should.  In fact, I would go so far as to suggest that the Ron Weasley before his brother’s death is the same one we see mere hours afterward.  Indeed, with a history like Ron’s, I’m surprised it didn’t lead to his betraying Harry again.

Killed to Compensate

There’s a bit in Order of the Phoenix where Ron’s father, Arthur Weasley, almost dies.  Originally Rowling had intended to kill him off, but she decided to spare him for various reasons.  To “compensate,” she decided to kill off Remus and Nymphadora near the end of the last book.  Alright; to “compensate”?  This sort of thinking should not be what drives a story.  In most cases, characters should be killed off either to drive the development of other characters (as with Boromir), to move the plot forward (as with Boromir), or to drive home a point (as with Thorin, Kíli, and Fíli).  Dumbledore’s death in Half-Blood Prince was the best in the series because it had a clear impact on the plot.

“I’ve Always Thought…”

It is in this book that we finally learn about Dumbledore’s dark past with the evil wizard Grindelwald.  Rowling later revealed in an interview…

“I always thought of Dumbledore as gay.  Dumbledore fell in love with Grindelwald, and that that added to his horror when Grindelwald showed himself to be what he was.”

Then you should have included that in the book !  That would have been awesome!  Seriously, even ignoring that this might have made her massive readership more accepting of people’s differences, the relationship’s romantic nature would have made Dumbledore all the more interesting as a character.  I cannot imagine why she chose not to put this in the book, but the decision deprives his character of that depth.

Post-Mortem Motivations

I also thought the character of Severus Snape, arguably Rowling’s best character, was wasted somewhat.  As with many of Rowling’s best characters, you never learn Severus’s true motivations until after he’s dead—something that has become repetitive by this point.  The problem with waiting till a character’s died is that by the time you find out what motivated them, they can no longer directly impact the plot.  Perhaps this would be alright occasionally, but Rowling has made a habit of it.

Begging for a Twist

Speaking of characters being wasted, there’s Neville Longbottom to think about.  This goes beyond Neville just being an interesting character who wasn’t used much; that’s all normal for these stories.  When I spoke of Order of the Phoenix, I said that the prophecy seemed to be leading to a great twist.  Well, that’s because there were two people who fit the criteria to be the Chosen One: Harry Potter and Neville Longbottom.  When Neville pulled the sword out of the hat, I thought that finally that seed would bear fruit, but all Neville did was behead one horcrux—not bad, but I feel it was a missed opportunity to defy expectations.  Instead, Harry returned from the dead and killed Voldemort himself as a contrived christ-figure.

Goblet of Fire onward, Harry has never gotten past a book’s climax without an unexpected deus ex machina saving his arse at the last minute, and I had hoped that he would, in the final battle, finally win due to his own strengths.  Imagine my disappointment when, as I just mentioned, Harry comes back from the dead and I have no idea why!

The return of Gandalf  in The Two Towers was explained well enough that I wasn’t confused.  The explanation for Harry Potter’s unlikely survival, on the other hand, is both convoluted and non-existent.  I would love it if someone could explain it to me, because I have absolutely no idea what was going on in that chapter.  And why is Harry given the choice of whether to return to life or to board some spirit-train and die?  Either he is dead or he isn’t !

The Unforgivable Curses

A less serious problem, yet one that irritated me a great deal, was that Rowling has made a huge deal of Harry being forced to use the three Unforgivable Curses over the course of the series.  In Order of the Phoenix, following Sirius’s death, Harry tries to use the Cruciatus curse on Bellatrix Lestrange.  In this book, a big deal is made of his using the Imperius curse for the first time, and then the Cruciatus—this time successfully.  It all seemed to be building up to the final duel, where Harry would of course be forced to use the final curse, Avada Kedavra , on Voldemort… except that he didn’t!  All this buildup goes nowhere, and Harry just shouts, “Expelliarmus!” which does the job, for some reason.  I found this thoroughly unsatisfying.

The Flaw in the Plan

Another problem I have with Deathly Hallows is that Dumbledore seemingly had an unbeatable plan, and everything proceeded according to that plan.  All the examples are in this last book.  Somehow he knew how every character would react to every situation that he somehow knew would befall them.  This makes the climax quite a let-down as there was no way Voldemort could have been victorious.  To worsen matters, almost every important sub-plot is abandoned on the spot the moment Voldemort dies by his own curse.

Had Neville turned out to be the chosen one or if the end of the story had been more like BBC’s Merlin, I could have forgiven almost all of the problems with this series.  But the ending the author gave us was nothing special and gave no new meaning to any prior events.

Epilogue: Nineteen Years Later

I stand by what I said; Deathly Hallows is a fun read despite its flaws.  The saccharine epilogue, however, is notoriously stupid!  Everyone makes fun of this bit, and they’re entirely justified in doing so.  The way-too-perfect future that Rowling’s surviving characters enjoy feels especially out of place after having just seen almost every interesting character slaughtered only a few pages ago.  Who married whom and how many kids they had is not the sort of thing that belongs in the epilogue; that’s what an appendix is for.

Slavery Isn’t Funny!

I said earlier that the inconsistent tone was one of my biggest problems with the series.  Well, my biggest problem with it is Rowling’s attempt to play slavery for laughs.  For all the good things about Chamber of Secrets, the one big problem was the house-elf Dobby.  House-elves are creatures permanently enslaved to their wizard masters.  They have virtually no rights and may be abused without consequence; it’s basically like what the Americans did little more than a century ago, only it’s supposedly going on right under our noses in the nineties—because that’s funny, right?

Unlike when the Americans had slaves, in Rowling’s world of “childlike wonder” there has never been a single witch or wizard to question the rightness of owning house-elves as lifelong slaves to be beaten at one’s leisure—not even the great Harry Potter, who stopped at freeing just one.  There were always people fighting to end American slavery, but not in the Wizarding World—the world Rowling sets so far apart from the abuse of the Dursleys.

The Society for the Protection of Elfish Welfare

The only character who thinks there might be something wrong with this is the muggle-born Hermione, and it’s made perfectly clear she’s the only person who’s ever had any problem with the way house elves are treated… ever !  The fact that she’s essentially an outsider, having not been born to wizards, is used to imply that she’s naïve—that things are more complicated in the magical world.  To any normal person reading this, Hermione is the heroine here, trying to organize the Society for the Protection of Elfish Welfare (S.P.E.W.).

Everyone —from her classmates to the author herself—reacts to S.P.E.W. with mild amusement, because we’re meant to believe she’s taking the issue too seriously—as though this were some laughable grass-roots “save-the-wheat grass!” crusade or a protest against the violence in wizard’s chess.  Even the acronym “S.P.E.W.” is a bloody joke , because the idea that slavery is wrong is something to laugh at, apparently!  But it’s slavery—SLAVERY!

“They Like Being Enslaved”

But what does the ever-compassionate Hagrid have to say about all this?

“It would be doing them an unkindness, Hermione.  It’s in their nature to look after humans; that’s what they like, see.  You’d be making them unhappy to take away their work, and insulting them if you tried to pay them!”

Yes, the house-elves are indeed as happy with their lot as a plantation-owner would have had you believe his slaves were.  As Ron succinctly put it, “they like being enslaved!”  Even our “hero” Harry Potter owns a slave, and no one bats a bloody eye.  If the sorcerers in Merlin were as repulsive as the wizards in Harry Potter, then I’d be firmly on Uther’s side!

Ambivalence

When I think about the books’ portrayal of slavery, I cannot help but be shocked that I don’t hate the series.  I think, however, that the author simply didn’t think through the implications of anything she wrote; she had no idea what she was doing when it came to these issues.  Rowling claims to have had the series planned out from the beginning, and I honestly don’t believe her.  I think she had a rough outline, but there’s so little continuity between the first books and the later ones that I feel sure that this plan changed suddenly when she was halfway through the series.

The Potential for Greatness

In each of the seven books there were some great moments; even Order of the Phoenix had the Room of Requirement.  Even as the end of the story drew near, I think the series had the potential for greatness, but I feel it fell short of what it could have been.  Still, the first three books were, for the most part, really good—a part of me wishes she’d stopped at three.

In the end, I’m ambivalent towards the Harry Potter series.  I don’t much like it, but I don’t dislike it either . 1   I just think it’s something to be learned from—perhaps as a cautionary tale.

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• Yeah… that was my opinion back in my late teens, watered down by a naïve urge to give Harry Potter the benefit of the doubt. The author’s real-life bigotry has eliminated this urge. Now that I’ve analyzed the themes of these books more closely, I can confidently say that I hate J.K. Rowling’s books. For details, please check out my more recent and comprehensive article on the subject . ↩︎
• Although, to be fair, I even found the abrupt change in tone off-putting when I read them as a kid. The moment the books started getting dark, one starts to question why no one died in the first three books. It’s not just that the change in tone alienates readers who’d got used to the original tone; it makes you retroactively interrogate the earlier books in light of the world the later books take place in. If all these Hogwarts students are getting killed now , then how come the basilisk’s victims in Book 2 all just happened to see the monster indirectly through various lucky coincidences? Do they have children’s book plot armour or not? ↩︎
• Having reexamined Chamber of Secrets as an adult, I must conclude that despite being the best-structured book in the series, it still doesn’t have much of a plot. It’s mostly school minutia filler. ↩︎
• Truth be told, most of Philosopher’s Stone ‘s supposed strengths have been greatly overestimated, including by me. I think the trainwreck that followed caused me to look at the early books with rose-coloured glasses. ↩︎
• Low-quality Ringwraith knock-offs though they are. ↩︎
• Great characters by the standards of this series, anyway. ↩︎
• Once again, “enjoyable” refers specifically to reading it as a child. More specifically, I originally read these books while waiting out a days-long car ride, so there wasn’t exactly much else to do at the time. ↩︎
• As close to a likeable character as you’ll find in Rowling’s borderline-sociopathic roster, anyway. As it happens, Luna is one of many characters who do almost nothing throughout the rest of the series. ↩︎
• Fascinating until you read the final book and find out how pointless everything was. And then, of course, you read it as an adult and realize that it basically amounted to “Tom Riddle was conceived through rape, and his mother was from a bad bloodline, and so he was born inherently evil.” ↩︎
• I mean, before they’d aged into their late teens and—like most teenagers in the early 2000s—started craving edginess above all else. ↩︎
• After slogging through Order of the Phoenix , even reading about angsty teenagers camping for chapter after chapter seems fun by comparison. ↩︎
• Returning to the books as an adult does make one wonder how one could have thought these characters were entertaining. ↩︎

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HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE

From the harry potter series , vol. 4.

by J.K. Rowling ‧ RELEASE DATE: July 8, 2000

Still, opening with a thrilling quidditch match, and closing with another wizardly competition that is also exciting, for...

As the bells and whistles of the greatest prepublication hoopla in children’s book history fade, what’s left in the clearing smoke is—unsurprisingly, considering Rowling’s track record—another grand tale of magic and mystery, of wheels within wheels oiled in equal measure by terror and comedy, featuring an engaging young hero-in-training who’s not above the occasional snit, and clicking along so smoothly that it seems shorter than it is.

Good thing, too, with this page count. That’s not to say that the pace doesn’t lag occasionally—particularly near the end when not one but two bad guys halt the action for extended accounts of their misdeeds and motives—or that the story lacks troubling aspects. As Harry wends his way through a fourth year of pranks, schemes, intrigue, danger and triumph at Hogwarts, the racial and class prejudice of many wizards moves to the forefront, with hooded wizards gathering to terrorize an isolated Muggle family in one scene while authorities do little more than wring their hands. There’s also the later introduction of Hogwarts’ house elves as a clan of happy slaves speaking nonstandard English. These issues may be resolved in sequels, but in the meantime, they are likely to leave many readers, particularly American ones, uncomfortable

Pub Date: July 8, 2000

ISBN: 978-0-439-13959-5

Page Count: 734

Publisher: Scholastic

Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2000

CHILDREN'S SCIENCE FICTION & FANTASY

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From the school for good and evil series , vol. 1.

by Soman Chainani ; illustrated by Iacopo Bruno ‧ RELEASE DATE: May 14, 2013

Rich and strange (and kitted out with an eye-catching cover), but stronger in the set pieces than the internal logic.

Chainani works an elaborate sea change akin to Gregory Maguire’s Wicked (1995), though he leaves the waters muddied.

Every four years, two children, one regarded as particularly nice and the other particularly nasty, are snatched from the village of Gavaldon by the shadowy School Master to attend the divided titular school. Those who survive to graduate become major or minor characters in fairy tales. When it happens to sweet, Disney princess–like Sophie and  her friend Agatha, plain of features, sour of disposition and low of self-esteem, they are both horrified to discover that they’ve been dropped not where they expect but at Evil and at Good respectively. Gradually—too gradually, as the author strings out hundreds of pages of Hogwarts-style pranks, classroom mishaps and competitions both academic and romantic—it becomes clear that the placement wasn’t a mistake at all. Growing into their true natures amid revelations and marked physical changes, the two spark escalating rivalry between the wings of the school. This leads up to a vicious climactic fight that sees Good and Evil repeatedly switching sides. At this point, readers are likely to feel suddenly left behind, as, thanks to summary deus ex machina resolutions, everything turns out swell(ish).

Pub Date: May 14, 2013

ISBN: 978-0-06-210489-2

Page Count: 496

Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins

Review Posted Online: Feb. 12, 2013

Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2013

CHILDREN'S SCIENCE FICTION & FANTASY | CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES

by Soman Chainani ; illustrated by Iacopo Bruno

More by Soman Chainani

by Soman Chainani ; illustrated by RaidesArt

by Soman Chainani ; illustrated by Julia Iredale

by Neil Gaiman ‧ RELEASE DATE: July 1, 2002

Not for the faint-hearted—who are mostly adults anyway—but for stouthearted kids who love a brush with the sinister:...

A magnificently creepy fantasy pits a bright, bored little girl against a soul-eating horror that inhabits the reality right next door.

Coraline’s parents are loving, but really too busy to play with her, so she amuses herself by exploring her family’s new flat. A drawing-room door that opens onto a brick wall becomes a natural magnet for the curious little girl, and she is only half-surprised when, one day, the door opens onto a hallway and Coraline finds herself in a skewed mirror of her own flat, complete with skewed, button-eyed versions of her own parents. This is Gaiman’s ( American Gods , 2001, etc.) first novel for children, and the author of the Sandman graphic novels here shows a sure sense of a child’s fears—and the child’s ability to overcome those fears. “ I will be brave ,” thinks Coraline. “ No, I am brave .” When Coraline realizes that her other mother has not only stolen her real parents but has also stolen the souls of other children before her, she resolves to free her parents and to find the lost souls by matching her wits against the not-mother. The narrative hews closely to a child’s-eye perspective: Coraline never really tries to understand what has happened or to fathom the nature of the other mother; she simply focuses on getting her parents back and thwarting the other mother for good. Her ability to accept and cope with the surreality of the other flat springs from the child’s ability to accept, without question, the eccentricity and arbitrariness of her own—and every child’s own—reality. As Coraline’s quest picks up its pace, the parallel world she finds herself trapped in grows ever more monstrous, generating some deliciously eerie descriptive writing.

Pub Date: July 1, 2002

ISBN: 0-380-97778-8

Page Count: 176

Publisher: HarperCollins

Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2002

CHILDREN'S GENERAL CHILDREN'S | GENERAL GRAPHIC NOVELS & COMICS | CHILDREN'S SCIENCE FICTION & FANTASY

More by Neil Gaiman

by Neil Gaiman ; illustrated by Various

by Neil Gaiman ; illustrated by Chris Riddell

by Neil Gaiman ; illustrated by Divya Srinivasan

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Is the Harry Potter Series Worth Reading? Book Series Review

• Post by: Professor Conquer
• Last updated on: July 7, 2021

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If you’re looking for a new book series to read, you’ve no doubt heard about the Harry Potter series . After all, it’s one of the most popular book series of all time. But is it one that you should be looking at for yourself?

You may be one of the many wondering, is the Harry Potter series worth reading? Well, if you are, then you should take a look at what we have to say here. First, we’re going to talk about the books themselves, what you should know before you get started, and even some Harry Potter character analysis.

Why You Should Read the Harry Potter Series?

Let’s start with the basics. Why read Harry Potter books? Well, there are actually a number of different reasons to read these books, and they start with the fact that these books are fun, engaging, and definitely well-written.

• They’re fun. If you’re looking for a fun read that’s going to pull you into an entirely different world full of magic and mystery and a little bit of good and evil, then you’re definitely going to like the Harry Potter books. They’re full of all of that and a whole lot more.
• You’ll learn things. We’ll talk about some of the specific lessons that you can learn in these books later, but you’re definitely going to learn some important lessons about friendship, love, strength, and a whole lot more.
• They break traditions. You don’t have to worry about stereotypes in these books because that’s not what they’re about. Rather, they have strong female characters and definitely intelligent ones. These books are about everyone coming together to use their strengths as one.
• They’re not about love. Okay, it’s a little about love. But it’s not about finding that special someone and living happily ever after. Sure, that happens a little, but the focus here is on friendship, battles, magic, and other aspects rather than being a long, drawn-out love story.
• They’re about life. Unfortunately, you won’t get 100% happily ever after’s with this series. Sure, you’ll get some great storylines and some happy moments, but not everyone is going to survive, and not everything is going to turn out precisely the way you might want it to.
• There are plenty of unique characters. You can definitely find a character that you relate to, and you can get to know them easily. That’s because, even though these books focus on a trio, there are plenty of other unique and unforgettable characters to choose from as your favorite.
• You can join the fandom. You’ve no doubt heard of Harry Potter before, even if you’ve never read the books. And that’s because there’s a massive following of people who love the books, the movies, the theme park, and everything else there is about Harry Potter. So, if you read the books, you can be part of that awesome fandom as well.

How Many Books are There in the Harry Potter Series?

The truth is that the Harry Potter series is more than just a set number of books. It’s actually an entire franchise that you will definitely want to explore once you’ve gotten started. So, we’ll start with the basics. The original series of Harry Potter books that will get you through the main story is seven books long.

Once you finish the original series, however, you’ll want to take a look at some of the supplemental books that go along with it. Truthfully, there are too many of those to even count. You can get books like Tales of Beedle the Bard and History of Magic , as well as books that explore different aspects of the wizarding world.

There are books that explore the movies, the spells, the wands, and just about everything else, and you will definitely find them both as official books to go along with the series and non-official ones. But that doesn’t make them any less interesting for fans, so you’ll want to take a closer look.

Also, make sure you look at the series of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them . This series is currently two books, but it’s still going, and you’ll find more books coming soon. Plus, there’s Harry Potter and the Cursed Child , which is actually a screenplay that takes place after the series.

All of this means that while the original series stops at seven books, there’s no end to the fantastic things that you can learn and explore with regards to the Harry Potter world.

What Lessons Does Harry Potter Teach Us?

There are a lot of lessons in Harry Potter that you will learn if you choose to read these books. And some of them you may not even notice until you’re done, or you may not notice at all. But no matter what, you’re going to be introduced to some really great things.

• Friendship is a powerful thing. The three stars of the show are evidence that friendship can genuinely change your life, and it can get you through just about anything. They go through some of the worst experiences anyone can live through, and they come out the other side because they have one another.
• You can be brave in more than one way. We often think of bravery as facing our fears when they’re tangible and obviously frightening, but there are other ways that people can be brave. Throughout this series, you’ll see examples of different characters being bold in their own way and facing up to others in new ways.
• People aren’t what they appear. Just because you think you know someone doesn’t mean that you do. There are secrets for many of the characters in this series, and you won’t really get to know who they are right off the bat. You’ll learn about judging people when you don’t know everything.
• Asking for help is essential. Asking for help doesn’t make you weak, and it’s definitely something that you should do when you need it. Harry often learns that he needs to ask someone to help him, and while he doesn’t want to, he also discovers that it’s the only way that he can succeed.
• Loss is a part of life. Not everything in your life will turn out the way that you want it to. And not everyone is going to make it through the way that you want them to. But just because loss is a part of life doesn’t mean that you have to let it destroy you either.
• Love is long-lasting. In fact, it lasts forever. Even if you lose someone that you care about, they will never truly be gone. There’s power in love and power in the way that you can carry on and continue to honor someone that you care about after they have died.
• Be strong. Sometimes you’re going to want to run, but you have to be willing to face up to those fears that have been holding you back and make a stand. And you may have to stand against the very people that you thought might be on your side. Or stand alongside people who you never thought would be with you.
• Money won’t fix everything. Being rich isn’t going to make a massive difference in your life if you don’t have principles, friends, and so many other things that are even more important. You can have all the money in the world and still fall short on the other things that really matter.
• Confidence is not courage. Just because you can bluster doesn’t mean that you’re actually a courageous person. It doesn’t mean that you can actually achieve the things that you want to or that you need to in order to be successful.
• You don’t have to fit in. So many of us want to fit in with the world around us and with the other people around us, but that’s not necessary at all. In fact, sometimes the best thing that you can do is stand out and be different. Just be you.
• There is magic out there. Magic may not exist in the way that we read about in stories, but it’s definitely out there, and it’s waiting for all of us to enjoy. The wizarding world is filled with magic, but there’s magic in the everyday as well.

What Age is Appropriate for Harry Potter Books?

If you want to get your children started on reading the Harry Potter series, or you’re looking at the books yourself and wondering if they’re good for you, they likely are. The books are geared toward children of about seven to nine, though you could read them to your children who are younger.

Younger children may not understand all of the concepts in the books or may have trouble with some of the words, but they’re definitely going to get the gist of everything, and they’re going to get a lot of those lessons out of the books.

Reading them together with younger children can be fun too, and it can help you to explain the things that they don’t understand. For older children, these books can be a good pick for them to read on their own, or you could still choose to have storytime together.

Don’t think that these books are only for kids, however. There are a lot of things in these books that are great for older readers, including teens and even adults. In fact, if you’re interested in any of the concepts, thoughts, lessons, and more from these books, then you’re the target audience.

Is the Harry Potter Books Better than the Movies?

There are several different ways to look at this question, and it can be difficult for a lot of people to decide. In general, you’ll find that the Harry Potter books give you a whole lot more detail and most definitely allow you to immerse yourself in the story more.

If you’re the type of person who loves to read and who likes to picture the story as you do, then you’ll probably find that the books are better. After all, there’s more room to expand on the story, and you’ll get a whole lot more details.

If you like movies and you’re looking for a way to enjoy the story without all of that extraneous detail, you might prefer the movies. It cuts out some of the fluff and some of the more minor things to focus on the most critical part of the story.

Wrapping Things Up: Is the Harry Potter Series Worth Reading?

If you’re looking for a new book to read and you’re not sure where to start, you should absolutely take a closer look at the Harry Potter series. Hopefully, our Harry Potter series review has shown you a little more about why this is such a great option.

You’ll learn a lot of lessons, have a lot of fun, and get out of the real world for a little bit when you read this series.

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Professor Conquer started Conquer Your Exam in 2018 to help students feel more confident and better prepared for their tough tests. Prof excelled in high school, graduating top of his class and receiving admissions into several Ivy League and top 15 schools. He has helped many students through the years tutoring and mentoring K-12, consulting seniors through the college admissions process, and writing extensive how-to guides for school.

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J.K. Rowling Hits Out at Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson Over Their Trans Rights Support: They Can 'Save Their Apologies'

The 'Harry Potter' stars previously spoke out in support of trans rights following comments made by series author Rowling

Controversial author J.K. Rowling is speaking out against her former Harry Potter stars Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson .

In a series of posts on X (formerly Twitter) Wednesday, April 10, the fantasy book series' author — who has  previously been criticized  for anti-transgender comments, as well as her  support for others  with transphobic views — shared a recent independent review "of the medical evidence for transitioning children ."

One follower responded to her on X, "Just waiting for Dan and Emma to give you a very public apology ... safe in the knowledge that you will forgive them ... " (Neither Radcliffe, 34, nor Watson, 33, have spoken out about their views on medical transitioning of children.)

"Not safe, I'm afraid," Rowling said. "Celebs who cosied up to a movement intent on eroding women's hard-won rights and who used their platforms to cheer on the transitioning of minors can save their apologies for traumatised detransitioners and vulnerable women reliant on single sex spaces."

Reps for Radcliffe and Watson did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment on Thursday, April 11.

Never miss a story — sign up for  PEOPLE's free daily newsletter  to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human-interest stories.

Todd Owyoung/NBC via Getty; Neil Mockford/FilmMagic; Arnold Jerocki/GC Images

In June 2020, Rowling publicly posted an essay criticizing transgender rights, stating in part, "I refuse to bow down to a movement that I believe is doing demonstrable harm in seeking to erode 'woman' as a political and biological class and offering cover to predators like few before it."

LGBTQ advocates and multiple stars of Rowling's movies quickly spoke out against her comments, with GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis calling it a "misinformed and dangerous missive about transgender people" that "flies in the face of medical and psychological experts and devalues trans people accounts of their own lives."

Andrew Milligan/PA Images via Getty

Following the publication of Rowling's essay, Radcliffe — who played the titular boy wizard in all eight Harry Potter films adapted from Rowling's books, from 2001 to 2011 — vocalized his support for trans women in a  short essay  for the  Trevor Project .

Stating definitively in the article that "transgender women are women," the Merrily We Roll Along actor added in part, "Any statement to the contrary erases the identity and dignity of transgender people and goes against all advice given by professional health care associations who have far more expertise on this subject matter than either Jo or I."

Watson, who played Hermione Granger, did not name Rowling specifically, but wrote on X the same day, "Trans people are who they say they are and deserve to live their lives without being constantly questioned or told they aren’t who they say they are."

"I want my trans followers to know that I and so many other people around the world see you, respect you and love you for who you are," the Beauty and the Beast star added in a follow-up post .

Other Potter alums who have weighed in, in support of Rowling or otherwise, include Jason Isaacs , the late Robbie Coltrane , Harry Melling , Evanna Lynch and Rupert Grint .

“I firmly stand with the trans community and echo the sentiments expressed by many of my peers. Trans women are women. Trans men are men,” said Grint, 35, according to U.K.'s  Sunday Times . “We should all be entitled to live with love and without judgment.”

The actor, who played Ron Weasley, later wrote a piece for  The Times'  "What I've Learnt"  series, revealing of his thoughts about "auntie" Rowling, "I don't necessarily agree with everything my auntie says, but she's still my auntie. ... It's a tricky one."

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Screen Rant

Harry potter: 10 scenes the movies did better than the books, according to reddit.

For the most part, the Harry Potter books are generally preferred over the films, but Redditors provide some movie scenes that are superior.

In many cases, readers know perfectly well that books are superior to their film adaptations, and the  Harry Potter   series is no different. Whether it was Ginny's personality, the omission of Luna's friend mural, or the specifics of the final battle, there are many details that fans were disappointed to see changed in the films.

However, there are still many redeeming factors for the movies. From slight alterations to completely new stories, there are nuances within the films that some fans prefer over the books, and Redditors have taken to sharing some of their favorites.

Nice One, James!

Harry had a very brief reunion with his long-lost godfather, however, they still shared some very lasting wholesome moments. One of these is in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix when Sirius and Harry are fighting alongside one another in the Ministry, and Sirius says to him, "Nice one, James!"

RELATED:  8 Creepy Fan Theories About Harry Potter's Golden Trio, According To Ranker

The moment is heartwarming as it not only once more reminds Harry that he reflects his father's looks and bravery, but also since it shows audiences that Sirius sees his friend living on through Harry. Redditor TopTopTopcina  thinks this scene from the movies was executed very well, symbolizing "a huge part of Harry and Sirius’s relationship."

Harry and Dumbledore Apparating

The books and movies alike repeatedly made Dumbledore a very humble individual when it comes to his immense power and authority. Despite being one of the most powerful wizards to ever exist in the Wizarding World - not to mention having faced both Grindelwald and Voldemort - he often downplays his own abilities. This is why Dumbledore's moments of cockiness and acknowledging his position are so much more appreciated.

Reddit user IHeartStuffLegoFluff  really enjoyed how "they adjusted how Harry and Dumbledor got to the cave in HBP . The simple statement of Dumbledore 'Well, being me has its advantages.' It just reminds you so perfectly how powerful he truly is. You're just like 'yeah, I buy it. He's Dumbledore.'"

Bellatrix LeShattered

Despite many unpopular opinions about Molly Weasley , she is undeniably a fierce witch and a very devoted mother, meaning that if anyone messes with her children, they better watch out. In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows , this means Bellatrix Lestrange, who goes after Ginny until Molly intervenes and finishes her off. A fitting end for a horrible and ruthless death eater.

Redditor Avaracious7899 preferred the movie's portrayal of that scene over the books, stating that they "actually prefer Molly  shattering  Bellatrix outright rather than just Stun-freezing her heart. It's not a big deal, but it just looks more satisfying with how awful Bellatrix was as a person, and it makes better fodder for jokes..."

The Price of Being Ron

Ron Weasley often gets flack from his older siblings, particularly the Weasley prankster twins, Fred and George. Even as they get older and eventually run their own very successful joke shop, Fred and George's relationship with their younger brother never changes, accurately representing the older vs. younger sibling dynamic.

RELATED:  10 Best Harry Potter Characters, According To Reddit

Reddit user  AlwaysTheRae  thought this was especially true in the scene from Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince when the twins double the price for Ron from five to ten galleons: "Fred and George were slightly kinder to Ron in the books (removing the Knut) but the movie made this scene way more iconic."

Harry Encouraging Dumbledore's Army

Harry's had to grow up quicker than a lot of his fellow classmates, given that the fate of the Wizarding World was placed upon his too-young shoulders as soon as he stepped into it. Despite this burden, he uses this extra maturity and responsibility to mold himself into a leader worth following.

Reddit user  Connected-VG  points out an altered moment in the Order of the Phoenix film that showcases this well: "Harry's outburst about what it's like to face real danger outside the classroom. I thought it was more powerful that he said all those things in the movie to the whole DA group instead of just Ron and Hermoine."

Not-So-Humble Harry

Despite his vastly different priorities and responsibilities, at the end of the day, Harry is still a teenager trying to navigate normal coming-of-age problems, such as relationships and dating. This is showcased especially well in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince , when Hermione mentions Romilda only likes him for being the Chosen One and Harry rebuffs "But I AM the Chosen One!"

RELATED:  10 Life Lessons From The Harry Potter Series, According To Reddit

It's a favorite movie moment for fans, such as Redditor  TopTopTopcina  who stated that the scene makes them "laugh every time. Harry isn’t a typical teen at all due to everything he’s been through, but this moment made him more human and relatable."

Francis the Fish

Although Horace Slughorn is a complex person, he does have many redeeming moments that establish him as one of the nicest Slytherin characters , such as his immense care for his students. Case in point: the story he tells Harry about Francis the Fish in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. 

As explained by Reddit user  whalehello_ , Slughorn tells Harry "the story of how lily (as a student) gifted him a bowl of water with a lily floating in it that transformed to a fish when he walked up to it, and the fish died when lily died" - a very emotional scene that made many film watchers tear up and add to their list of moments won by the films.

Freeing Dobby

Dobby was undoubtedly one of the best characters in the films, even with many of his best book scenes being cut from the movies. His pureness, resourcefulness, and overall cuteness made him a memorable elf and the entire fandom mourned his death in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 . One of his other most unforgettable and quotable scenes is when he receives his freedom in the form of a sock.

Redditor  Few_One commends Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets  for executing this scene better than the book: "When Harry tricks Lucius into liberating Dobby. In the film, the sock is inside the diary while in the books, Harry puts the diary inside the sock which is pretty weird," making Dobby's emancipation in the film much more surprising and impactful.

Harry and Hermione's Dance

There are many reasons Hermione was actually Harry's best friend , such as how they keep one another grounded, motivated, and loved during their tumultuous times. However, their friendship is also full of immense trauma, with far too few moments of carefree happiness than they deserved.

This is why the scene of them dancing in the seventh film is all the more important and cherished. Reddit user  life_uh_findsaway93  says they loved that scene as it's "sweet and seeing them kind of 'let loose' for a minute reminds the viewer that they're still technically kids while trying to save the entire wizarding world. It brings it even more into perspective the enormity of the task on their shoulders."

I Must Not Tell Lies, Professor

Dolores Umbridge is easily one of the most hated characters in the Harry Potter series. With her merciless dictator-esque rule on Hogwarts, she was arguably a bigger villain than Voldemort in the fifth film, which is why the scene of Harry and Hermione leaving her with the centaurs was so monumental.

Redditor juicy-barber quotes Harry's iconic "I'm sorry Professor, but I must not tell lies" as one of the best movie moments that beat the books, with  IHeartStuffLegoFluff  agreeing and saying they "always forget that it's not part of the book," given how great of a moment it truly is.

NEXT:  Fan Casting the Hogwarts Founders According To Reddit

Theater + Arts | Review: Want some advice? See ‘Tiny,…

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Theater + arts, theater + arts | review: want some advice see ‘tiny, beautiful things’ at anaheim’s chance theater.

Enter Chance Theater’s mainstage right now and you encounter a  welcoming home. Bathed in beatific amber lighting sits a sizable, well-appointed kitchen and island, an intimate dining space, a pleasingly stuffed bookcase against the wall and a comfy multi-piece sectional couch set.

Why, whoever is lucky enough to live here surely must not have a care in the world.

Fortunately for those experiencing the emotionally affecting single act play “Tiny, Beautiful Things,” that’s not the case.

The woman who resides here has a multitude of modern life concerns and, a bit inexplicably to herself, has chosen to address the similar challenges that are vexing thousands of others.

“Tiny,  Beautiful Things” is based on nonfiction writer Cheryl Strayed’s anonymously written — and unpaid for — online advice columns, written a decade or so ago under the anonymous pseudonym of “Dear Sugar.”

The center of the action is her inbox.  Correspondents stampede her with their e-mailed what-to-do questions, increasingly drawn in by her empathetic answers which are nonjudgmental and personally confessional.

The key to Sugar’s appeal is her lack of self-pity and her universally relevant revelations about personal drug addictions, a failed marriage and the hollowness she feels about her own life.

Like-minded readers can relate as she establishes a degree of conversational intimacy far from the impersonal, imperious judgements rendered across the decades by the Dear Abby ilk.

This play, however, isn’t some self-indulgent weep fest.

The emotional array of subjects ranges goes beyond the usual self-help fallouts of family fights, unfulfilling marriages and social loneliness. Reader “Sexy Santa,” for instance, wonders if he should deliver more than just presents; Sugar saucily suggests a stocking stuffer is in order.

The play was conceived by actress Nia Vardalos (“My Big Fat Greek Wedding”), who starred as the central character in the original 2016 New York production directed by Thomas Kail (the year following his Tony-winning work on “Hamilton”).

The show’s construction is a model of efficiency and Chance’s director for this production, Katie Chidester, employs non-fussy staging that doesn’t call attention to itself, but keeps her four actors as the focal points.

Prominent among them is Aubrey Saverino, who carries the dominating role as Sugar with confidence and winning aplomb. Among Chance’s loosely knit repertory of acting talent, Saverino has emerged as something of a local star of the moment.

Her acting chops for bringing depth to characters and bright-eyed engagement with material have been on recent display in Chance’s 2022’s production of “Cry It Out” and, especially, her bravura, solo turn in “Matinicus: The Story of Abigail Burgess.”

From left, Jennifer Richardson, Jonathon Lamer, Aubrey Saverino, and Sam Mistry star in “Tiny Beautiful Things” at Chance Theater through April 28. (Photo by Francis Gacad)

From left, Jonathon Lamer, Aubrey Saverino, and Sam Mistry appear in a scene from “Tiny Beautiful Things” at Chance Theater. (Photo by Francis Gacad)

Jennifer Richardson, left, and Aubrey Saverino appear in a scene from “Tiny Beautiful Things” at Chance Theater. (Photo by Francis Gacad)

Sam Mistry and Aubrey Saverino appear in “Tiny Beautiful Things” at Chance Theater. (Photo by Francis Gacad)

Jennifer Richardson, left and Aubrey Saverino appear in a scene from “Tiny Beautiful Things” at Chance Theater. (Photo by Francis Gacad)

Aubrey Saverino and Jonathon Lamer appear in “Tiny Beautiful Things” at Chance Theater. (Photo by Francis Gacad)

From left, Jonathon Lamer, Jennifer Richardson, Aubrey Saverino, and Sam Mistry star in “Tiny Beautiful Things” at Chance Theater in Anaheim through April 28. (Photo by Francis Gacad)

Three other able performers — Chance veterans Jonathon Lamer and Jennifer Richardson, with newcomer Sam Mistry — are the letter writers who inhabit Sugar’s environment, engaging her in dialogue as the Q&A verbal interchanges develop throughout the home (for instance, the four briefly congregate about the kitchen island constructing PB&J school lunch sandwiches for Sugar’s unseen kids).

Kristin Campbell Coyne earns her credit for that atmospheric scenic design; in her program note she effusively praises Teddy Pagee as her assistant scenic designer. Jordan “L.J.” Guriel provides the embracing lighting design.

Sugar’s give and take with her public following reaches its apex near the play’s end after she receives a stark, devastating reach-out from “Living Dead Dad.”

Desolate in the wake of his son’s death by a drunken driver, the character, voiced by Lamer, doesn’t have a specific question, but bleakly lays out 24 bullet point laments which deaden and now define his own existence.

As Sugar responds, with heart-rending empathy, to each of these 24 salvos, Lamer slowly approaches Saverino. She locks eyes with him, offering a gaze that seems to establish solidarity with not just his pain, but his sheer humanity.

Often, perhaps, the best advice can be found beyond words.

‘Tiny, Beautiful Things’

Rating: 3 stars (out of a possible 4)

When: Through April 28. Regular performances: 8 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays, 3 and 8 p.m. Sundays

Where: Chance Theater, Cripe Stage, 5522 E. La Palma Ave., Anaheim

Tickets: $8-44.

Information: 888-455-4212; chancetheater.com

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J.K. Rowling says 'Harry Potter' stars who've criticized her anti-trans views 'can save their apologies'

J.K. Rowling is not on good terms with the "Harry Potter" cast who have opposed her anti-transgender views .

Responding to an X post from a fan about feeling "safe in the knowledge" that Rowling would forgive "Harry Potter" stars such as Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson , who have denounced the author's anti-trans rhetoric , Rowling wrote, "Not safe, I'm afraid."

Her post continued, "Celebs who cosied up to a movement intent on eroding women's hard-won rights and who used their platforms to cheer on the transitioning of minors can save their apologies for traumatised detransitioners and vulnerable women reliant on single sex spaces."

Radcliffe, Watson and Rupert Grint – who played protagonists Harry Potter, Hermoine Granger and Ron Weasley, respectively, from their childhood to young adult years – have all expressed their support for the trans community in recent years.

After Rowling penned a  personal essay  in June 2020 detailing her beliefs about "trans activism" and young people experiencing gender dysphoria eventually outgrowing them, several "Harry Potter" cast members publicly criticized her comments, which were deemed transphobic.

"I firmly stand with the trans community and echo the sentiments expressed by many of my peers. Trans women are women. Trans men are men. We should all be entitled to live with love and without judgment," Grint said in a statement at the time to the U.K.'s The Sunday Times.

Radcliffe reiterated that "transgender woman are women," in an essay for LGBTQ non-profit organization  The Trevor Project , and Watson said in an X post  that trans people "deserve to live their lives without being constantly questioned or told they aren't who they say they are."

'Harry Potter' at 20: How did childhood fame treat Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint?

The "Harry Potter" stars' criticism also came with a measure of gratitude.

In a 2021 Esquire interview , Grint acknowledged that he's "hugely grateful" for Rowling's work but added, "I think also you can have huge respect for someone and still disagree with things like that."

Though Radcliffe noted that Rowling is "unquestionably responsible" for the course of his life, he added he still feels "compelled to say something at this moment."

Meanwhile, Ralph Fiennes, who played antagonist Voldemort – aka Tom Riddle – said in a 2021 interview with The Telegraph that he couldn't "understand the vitriol directed at" Rowling. "I can understand the heat of an argument, but I find this age of accusation and the need to condemn irrational," Fiennes said.

What J.K. Rowling has said recently about the trans community

Rowling has been loudly criticized − and just as loudly defended − for her anti-trans statements since 2019, when she voiced her support for Maya Forstater , a researcher who lost her job for stating that people cannot change their biological sex. An employment appeal tribunal later sided with her.

The ruling stated that "gender-critical beliefs, which include the belief that sex is immutable and not to be conflated with gender identity" were protected by the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and the Equality Act 2010's section on "religion or belief." However, such statements are still subject to discrimination and harassment laws.

What has the 'Harry Potter' cast said? Rupert Grint calls J.K. Rowling relationship 'tricky'

Rowling has recently been vocal on social media about Scotland's new hate crime law , her concern over the number of minors who detransition and findings from the recently published Cass Review , which makes a few dozen recommendations for improving the National Health Service's gender identity services, including using "extreme caution" in prescribing gender-affirming hormone therapy to those between 16 and 18.

In response to Scotland criminalizing "stirring up hatred" relating to age, disability, religion, sexual orientation and transgender identity, Rowling tested the law by listing 10 trans women, including a convicted rapist, sex abusers and high-profile activists on X, saying they were men.

Police Scotland, the U.K. country's national police agency, reportedly told  BBC News  that Rowling's comments on the hate crime law will not be "treated as criminal." The agency added that while complaints on the author's social media posts had been made to police, no action would be taken.

Last month, British TV personality India Willoughby  said she'd reported Rowling to U.K. law enforcement for misgendering her on social media. In an interview , Willoughby said, "For J.K. Rowling to deliberately misgender me knowing who I am is grossly offensive. It is a hate crime."

Last year, Rowling  addressed the criticism  she's received on the podcast  "The Witch Trials of J.K. Rowling ."

"I absolutely knew that if I spoke out, many people who would love my books would be deeply unhappy with me," Rowling said. "Time will tell whether I've got this wrong. I can only say that I’ve thought about it deeply and hard and long and I’ve listened, I promise, to the other side." 

Contributing: Naledi Ushe, Barbara VanDenburgh and Jenna Ryu

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‘Civil War’ declares victory at the box office, toppling ‘Godzilla x Kong’

This image released by A24 shows Kirsten Dunst in a scene from “Civil War.” (Murray Close/A24 via AP)

This image released by A24 shows a scene from “Civil War.” (A24 via AP)

This image released by A24 shows Kirsten Dunst in a scene from “Civil War.” (A24 via AP)

This image released by A24 shows Cailee Spaeny, left, and Kirsten Dunst in a scene from “Civil War.” (A24 via AP)

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Alex Garland’s provocative “ Civil War ” didn’t only ignite the discourse . The film also inspired audiences to go to the cinemas this weekend where it surpassed expectations and earned $25.7 million in ticket sales in North America, according to studio estimates Sunday.

It’s the biggest R-rated opening of the year to date and a record for A24, the studio behind films like “Everything Everywhere All At Once” and “The Iron Claw.” “Civil War” also unseated “ Godzilla x Kong ” from its perch atop the box office. The titan movie from Warner Bros. had held the No. 1 spot for the past two weekends .

“Civil War,” starring Kirsten Dunst, Wagner Moura and Cailee Spaeny as front-line journalists in the near future covering a devastating conflict in the U.S. and trying to make their way to Washington, D.C. The story, written by Garland, who is also the mind behind “Ex Machina” and “Annihilation,” imagines a U.S. in which California and Texas have united against a president who has disbanded the FBI and given himself a third term.

Though entirely fictional, “Civil War” has been inspiring debates since the first trailer that have extended beyond the musings of film critics and traditional reviews. This weekend, The New York Times ran two opinion pieces related to the movie, one by Stephen Marche and another by Michelle Goldberg . There were also pieces on CNN and Politico.

Going into the weekend, projections pegged the film to debut in the $15 to $24 million range. The studio said “Civil War” overperformed in markets “from LA to El Paso.” The data analytics company EntTelligence reported that the film has attracted over 1.7 million patrons this weekend and that the top three markets were Los Angeles, New York and Dallas.

“The title alone is enough to spark a conversation in a year where the political discourse is top of mind,” said Paul Dergarabedian, the senior media analyst for Comscore. “And they couldn’t have picked a better date. This movie is perfectly timed in a month that is very quiet.”

AP AUDIO: ‘Civil War’ declares victory at the box office, toppling ‘Godzilla x Kong’

AP correspondent Margie Szaroleta reports on “Civil War” leading the box office.

The film opened on 3,838 screens in the U.S. and Canada, including IMAX. It’s the most expensive movie that the studio has ever made, with a production budget of $50 million, which does not account for millions spent on marketing and promotion.

IMAX showings of “Civil War,” which was playing on 400 of the large format screens, accounted for $4.2 million, or 16.5% of the domestic total.

This image released by A24 shows Cailee Spaeny, left, and Kirsten Dunst in “Civil War.” (A24 via AP)

Reviews have been largely positive. It’s currently at 83% on Rotten Tomatoes, with a 77% audience score. Its CinemaScore was a B-, which has sometimes indicated that word of mouth might not be strong going forward. But that might not be the case with “Civil War,” which doesn’t have a tremendous amount of competition over the next few weeks until “The Fall Guy” opens on May 3.

“You have to take all the metrics together, including the competitive landscape,” Dergarabedian said.

But it is a notable win for the studio, which doesn’t always open films nationwide out of the gates. Before “Civil War,” A24’s biggest debut was the Ari Aster horror “Hereditary,” which opened to $13.6 million in 2018.

“This isn’t destined to be a $200 million global blockbuster. But it’s a very high-profile win for A24,” Dergarabedian said. “They’re a studio that pushes the envelope. They’re a brand associated with a certain level of quality and filmmaking expertise, pushing boundaries and taking risks. It’s well-earned over the years.”

Second place went to “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire,” which earned $15.5 million in its third weekend to bring its running domestic total to nearly $158 million. Another “Empire” movie, Sony’s “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire,” took third place in its fourth weekend with $5.8 million. It’s now at $160 million worldwide.

Rounding out the top five was Universal and DreamWorks’ “Kung Fu Panda 4,” in fourth with $5.5 million in weekend six, and “Dune: Part Two” with $4.3 million in its seventh weekend. “Dune 2” has now earned $272 million domestically.

This weekend also saw the box office year-to-date comparisons take a big hit. Last year, “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” brought in over $92 million in its second weekend in theaters. On the same weekend in 2023, the top 10 accounted for over $142 million, compared to this year’s $68.4 million. The year to date is back down to 16% after seeing some recovery with the success of “Dune: Part Two.”

“The box office has been a seesaw,” Dergarabedian said. “But we all knew this was going to be a rough month for comps because of ‘Mario.’”

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Comscore. Final domestic figures will be released Monday.

1. “Civil War,” $25.7 million.

2. “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire,” $15.5 million.

3. “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire,” $5.8 million.

4. “Kung Fu Panda 4,” $5.5 million.

5. “Dune: Part Two,” $4.3 million.

6. “Monkey Man,” $4.1 million.

7. “The First Omen,” $3.8 million.

8. “The Long Game,” $1.4 million.

9. “Shrek 2,” $1.4 million.

10. “SUGA - Agust D Tour ‘D-DAY’ The Movie,” $990,881.

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J.k. rowling says she won’t forgive daniel radcliffe, emma watson for trans stance.

In the wake of a new report critical of current gender care standards for young people, the British author criticized Harry Potter stars who went against her views: "Celebs who … cheer on the transitioning of minors can save their apologies."

By James Hibberd

James Hibberd

Writer-at-Large

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J.K. Rowling suggests she will not forgive her Harry Potter stars for going against her views on trans rights in the wake of a new report criticizing current gender care treatments for young people.

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Rowling, who has drawn considerable fire in recent years for her outspoken and staunch social media campaign against certain aspects of the trans rights movement, issued several comments about the report on X.

At one point, one of Rowling’s followers said they were waiting for Harry Potter stars Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson — both of whom publicly broke with Rowling to issue comments supporting trans rights in 2020 — to “give you a very public apology … safe in the knowledge that you will forgive them.”

Rowling replied , “Not safe, I’m afraid. Celebs who cosied up to a movement intent on eroding women’s hard-won rights and who used their platforms to cheer on the transitioning of minors can save their apologies for traumatised detransitioners and vulnerable women reliant on single sex spaces.”

Rowling’s comment came amid the author tweeting several times about the Cass report’s conclusions in general.

In 2020, Radcliffe replied to a Rowling tweet about the issue: “Transgender women are women. Any statement to the contrary erases the identity and dignity of transgender people and goes against all advice given by professional health care associations who have far more expertise on this subject matter than either Jo or I. According to The Trevor Project, 78% of transgender and nonbinary youth reported being the subject of discrimination due to their gender identity. It’s clear that we need to do more to support transgender and nonbinary people, not invalidate their identities, and not cause further harm.”

While Watson tweeted: “Trans people are who they say they are and deserve to live their lives without being constantly questioned or told they aren’t who they say they are. I want my trans followers to know that I and so many other people around the world see you, respect you and love you for who you are.”

Rowling’s position on the trans issue has been a source of awkwardness in her longtime and otherwise mutually beneficial relationship with Warner Bros., which has continued to explore new avenues of Wizarding World content. The studio has announced a reboot of the Harry Potter saga as a TV series for Max that will have a new cast and Rowling on board. Warner Bros. hopes to have the first season debut in 2026.

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Fx assembles cast for ‘snowflakes’ comedy pilot, breaking news.

‘Harry Potter’ TV Series Due To Hit Max In 2026: Everything We Know About The Cast, Who’s Creating It, What J.K. Rowling Says & More – Update

By Tom Tapp

Deputy Managing Editor

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UPDATED with latest : At its Max streaming event in April 2023, Warner Bros. Discovery confirmed a new era is coming for Harry Potter fans . The company announced a TV series based on all seven books about the boy wizard written by J.K. Rowling . See below for the most current answers to the most important questions about the project.

What is the Harry Potter TV series about?

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Early reports had each season of the series focusing on one book in the Harry Potter book series, which consists of seven novels, but Bloys said the project would run for “10 consecutive years,” which would seem to defy the 1 season, 1 book assertion. For those who say Fantastic Beasts could be leveraged to provide 10 seasons over 10 years, WBD brass said specifically during the announcement that FB will not be a part of the series.

Whatever the case, Bloys promised that, as the company embarks on its new Harry Potter adventure, “We do so with the full care and craft of this franchise.”

Who Is creating the Harry Potter series?

It has taken a bit, given the initial announcement was in April 2023, but in recent months Warner Bros. invited a select group of creatives in to pitch ideas for what the series could be. They were Martha Hillier, Kathleen Jordan, Tom Moran and Michael Lesslie. Now, the streaming service and Warner Bros. Television have narrowed it to Jordan, Moran and newer addition Francesca Gardiner, sources said.

Deadline broke the news last month that Succession  writer  Francesca Gardiner  is among the finalists. Gardiner was a consulting producer on Seasons 3 and 4 of HBO’s  Succession . Before working on the Jesse Armstrong creation, she was an exec producer of HBO and BBC fantasy co- production   His Dark Materials  and was a co-exec producer of AMC’s  Killing Eve . She has also written on shows including Starz’s  The Rook  and Amazon’s  The Man In The High Castle.

Tom Moran is a British writer, who created Amazon series The Devil’s Hour , which starred Peter Capaldi. He also worked on Amazon sci-fi series The Feed and Rob Lowe cop drama Wild Bill .

It’s an interesting mix of Brits and Americans, most of whom have some experience working with streamers and many of whom have shepherded projects in the sci-fi/fantasy space.

We’ve heard that the group of writers were commissioned by Max to create pitches for a series reflecting their take on the IP. Rowling is understood to be involved in this pitching process. The trio will be able to hone in on their pitches for the next couple of months, with a decision on who gets the job expected in June. 

When will the Harry Potter series be released?

The series is expected to be on air in 2026, according to Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav.

“We’ve not been shy about our excitement around Harry Potter,” Zaslav told Wall Street analysts on the company’s fourth-quarter earnings call. “I was in London a few weeks ago with Casey [Bloys, CEO of HBO] and Channing [Dungey, chairperson of Warner Bros Television] and we spent some real time with JK and her team,” he enthused. “Both sides just thrilled to be reigniting this franchise. Our conversations were great.”

Given the results on that earnings call, WBD needs Harry Potter’s magic sooner rather than later.

Ditto J.K. Rowling, whose production company posted a 74% drop in profits in 2022. That rebounded somewhat after the stage version of  Harry Potter  And The Cursed Child  proved to be a post-pandemic crowd pleaser. The author got a $10.5 million paycheck for it in 2023.

The success of the stage show demonstrates that there’s still an appetite for Hogwarts-related content. Likewise the massive hit that is Hogwarts Legacy, which became the bestselling video game of 2023 , moving 22 million units. (That’s fantastic, but for comparison Rowling’s seven bestselling  Harry Potter  books have moved 600M copies worldwide.)

At a Goldman Sachs conference last year, Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav made pointed out the need for more Hogwarts magic explicitly. Ignoring the Harry-less Fantastic Beasts films, the CEO insisted the boy wizard presents a huge opportunity, claiming that the IP has been “underused” of late.

“We haven’t done anything with Harry Potter for more than a decade,” he said, before going on to note that when one examines the performance of Warner Bros. over the last 20 years without accounting for it’s big three — Potter , Lord of the Rings and DC — the company’s performance is “relatively flat.”

Zaslav called that type of big-ticket IP “one of the big differentiators of this company.” And he seems to be counting on it to make a big difference.

“When you put those franchises in, it’s the best-performing studio in the world. We need to deploy our best capital, and we need to do it with the best creative people in the world,” he said.

How to watch the series

It will, of course, be on Max once the series is ready. The service has three price tiers: Max Ad Light, which goes for $9.99 a month or $99.99 a year and allows two concurrent streams; Max Ad Free will be priced at $15.99 a month, or $149.99 a year, and will also allow two concurrent streams; and Max Ultimate Ad Free which costs $19.99 a month, or $199.99 a year, and allows access to four concurrent streams.

If you’re in Canada, WBD has struck a multi-year licensing agreement with Crave for the likes of  Harry Potter ,  Game of Thrones ,  the  DC  Universe and  HBO  content.

Which actors are starring in the series? Are any of the original Harry Potter stars returning?

There will be new actors playing the series’ main characters, but no one has been cast yet. Warner Bros. TV Group Chairman Channing Dungey said recently that that casting will come after they find a showrunner.

As for that, Warner Bros. is very likely looking to cast young actors, given that they’re proceeding through Rowling’s books in order. “The tricky part is the first two books, where the kids are on the younger end, around 11 or 12,” said Dungey of the casting process.

“We have been trying to be very close to the vest,” said Bloys. “We haven’t gone out to agencies. We have our own internal process where we’ve been thinking about people but we have not wanted to go out into the world. Now that the news is out there…we’ll start going out to the business.”

As for a return of any of the film franchise’s stars — like Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson or Rupert Grint — never say never. It would certainly be a PR boost for the series and, while new actors will be cast in the primary roles, there are always flashforwards or the currently en vogue multiverse plot ploy that could create space for more familiar faces in the series.

But Daniel Radcliffe has said he is fine with sitting on the sidelines.

“My understanding is that they’re trying to very much start fresh and I’m sure whoever is making them will want to make their own mark on it and probably not want to have to figure out how to get old Harry to cameo in this somewhere,” Radcliffe told ComicBook.com . “So I’m definitely not seeking it out in any way. But I do wish them, obviously, all the luck in the world and I’m very excited to have that torch passed. But I don’t think it needs me to physically pass it.”

Another longtime Potter player who likely won’t be involved is David Yates, who directed the last four movies,  Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix  (2007),  Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince  (2009) and  Deathly Hallows Part One and Two  (2010 and 2011). In addition, Yates took on the  Potter  spinoff  Fantastic Beasts  trilogy. He says there has been no conversation about his involvement with the series. And it sounds like he’s ok with that.

“Huge affection and a lovely group of people I worked with,” Yates told Deadline . “But we haven’t had a conversation since we finished it.”

“It’s been about ‘Let’s just park it, and be done for a while,'” he said of the Potter franchise.

“Never say never, I would say, but I’m excited about moving on,” he said.

Your Hogwarts letter is here. Max has ordered the first ever #HarryPotter scripted television series, a faithful adaptation of the iconic books. #StreamOnMax pic.twitter.com/3CgEHLYhch — Max (@StreamOnMax) April 12, 2023

Will J.K. Rowling be involved in the new Harry Potter TV series?

Yes. A deal for J.K. Rowling’s involvement in the series had been the biggest hurdle in its path to the screen: The author has creative control over any exploitation of her work. That agreement was finalized in 2023.

“Max’s commitment to preserving the integrity of my books is important to me, and I’m looking forward to being part of this new adaptation which will allow for a degree of depth and detail only afforded by a long form television series,” said Rowling in a statement.

Since Warners launched its streaming service, there’s always been a goal to exploit Warners’ biggest franchise for streaming. Warner Bros Discovery CEO David Zaslav, taking the reigns after the merger last year, met with Rowling several times in the UK. He’s even spoken up in support of the author, who has been involved in an ongoing controversy over her comments on transgender issues . Asked about the streaming event about those controversies, Bloys demurred.

“No, I don’t think this is the forum [to discuss that],” he said. “That’s a very online conversation, very nuanced and complicated and not something we’re going to get into.”

“Our priority is what’s on the screen,” Bloys continued. “Obviously, the Harry Potter story is incredibly affirmative and positive and about love and self-acceptance. That’s our priority — what’s on screen.”

As for how close the author will be to the series, Bloys said, “[Rowling] will be involved. She’s an executive producer on the show. Her insights are going to be helpful on that.”

The author’s involvement could prove a hurdle to having the principals from the films involved in the series. Relations between Rowling, Radcliffe and Emma Watson can’t be great, given the author recently said she was “bloody angry” over stances taken by trans rights activists, which she sees being in opposition to women’s rights.

Rowling claimed that “thousands are complicit, not just medics, but the celebrity mouthpieces, unquestioning media and cynical corporations.” Asked specifically whether she would forgive Radcliffe and Watson for their unabashed pro-trans rights stance on the issue Rowling replied, “Celebs who cosied up to a movement intent on eroding women’s hard-won rights and who used their platforms to cheer on the transitioning of minors can save their apologies.”

Bloys was clear, however, that WBD wasn’t entirely dependent on Rowling for the project.

“The TV show is new and we’re excited about that. But, remember, we’ve been in the Potter business for 20 years. This is not a new decision for us, we’re very comfortable being in the Potter business.”

How much will the series cost to produce?

“You know we make shows at this scale with House of the Dragon , Game of Thrones ,” said Bloys. “I imagine will be that scale or higher. The shorter answer is whatever it takes to make a quality show.”

Per Deadline reporting, House of the Dragon cost nearly $200 million and was the subject of HBO’s biggest marketing campaign ever, valued at over $100M in media spend (that’s a combo of ad spot value and hard cash shelled out). So fans can expect a similar outlay for the Potter series “or higher,” according to HBO/Max boss Bloys.

Will there be other Harry Potter-related projects?

“We’re free to do anything we want,” Zaslav has said, before hedging a bit. “Some areas we need to do with J.K., other areas we have the full ability to go forward. This is a full deployment on Max of Harry Potter. We can still develop other properties.”

Deadline understands that there may also be an opportunity for more than one of the above-mentioned writers to be involved and that Max is open to the possibility of developing more than one idea based on  Harry Potter.

How long has this been in the works?

Max and its then-parent company WarnerMedia  started exploring  a potential Harry Potter TV series a couple of years ago. At the time, Warner Bros. appointed Kids, Young Adult and Classics president Tom Ascheim to manage the Wizarding World and Potter franchises, which include theme parks, tours and the $9.1 billion-grossing theatrical library that spans the  Harry Potter  and spinoff  Fantastic Beasts  titles. Under that setup, Ascheim became WarnerMedia’s senior rep in its relationship with Rowling and her representatives, and exploratory conversations for a Max series got underway.

After the Discovery acquisition was completed a year ago, that unit was disbanded and  Ascheim exited the company . However, the importance of the   Harry Potter IP has only grown post-merger.

Zaslav spoke about his family’s own personal connection to the series.

“My wife and I, we read (the Harry Potter books) to each of our three kids,” said Zaslav, going off script at the Max announcement. “It’s really moving, for ten consecutive years, people will see  Harry Potter  on HBO; I mean it’s really something.”

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