The Harry Potter film series is a British-American film series based on the Harry Potter novels by the British author J. K. Rowling. The series is distributed by Warner Bros. and consists of eight fantasy films^[1] beginning with Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (2001) and culminating with Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 (2011).^[2] It is the highest-grossing film series of all-time in inflation unadjusted dollars, with $7.7 billion in worldwide receipts. Each film is in the 35 highest-grossing films of all-time in inflation unadjusted dollars.^[3]

The series was produced by David Heyman and stars Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson as the three leading characters, Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger. Four directors worked on the series: Chris Columbus, Alfonso Cuarón, Mike Newell and David Yates.^[4]

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the seventh and final novel in the series, is split into two feature-length parts. Part 1 was released in November 2010 and Part 2 was released on 15 July 2011.^[5][6]

Origins[link]

David Heyman produced all eight films in the series since securing the film rights in 1999.

Late in 1997, film producer David Heyman's London offices received a copy of the first book in what would become Rowling's series of seven Harry Potter novels. The book, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, was relegated to a low-priority bookshelf, where it was discovered by a secretary who read it and gave it to Heyman with a positive review. Consequently Heyman, who had originally disliked "the rubbish title", read the book himself. Highly impressed by Rowling's work, he began the process that led to the most successful cinematic franchise of all time.^[7]

Heyman's enthusiasm led to Rowling's 1999 sale of the film rights for the first four Harry Potter books to Warner Bros. for a reported £1 million (US$2,000,000).^[8] A demand Rowling made was that the principal cast be kept strictly British, allowing nevertheless for the inclusion of many Irish actors such as the late Richard Harris as Dumbledore, and for casting of French and Eastern European actors in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire where characters from the book are specified as such.^[9] Rowling was hesitant to sell the rights because she "didn't want to give them control over the rest of the story" by selling the rights to the characters, which would have enabled Warner Bros. to make non-author-written sequels.^[10]

Although Steven Spielberg initially negotiated to direct the first film, he declined the offer.^[11] Spielberg wanted the adaptation to be an animated film, with American actor Haley Joel Osment to provide Harry Potter's voice.^[12] Spielberg contended that, in his opinion, there was every expectation of profit in making the film, and that making money would have been like "shooting ducks in a barrel. It's just a slam dunk. It's just like withdrawing a billion dollars and putting it into your personal bank accounts. There's no challenge".^[13] In the Rubbish Bin section of her website, Rowling maintains that she has no role in choosing directors for the films, writing "Anyone who thinks I could (or would) have 'veto-ed' him [Spielberg] needs their Quick-Quotes Quill serviced."^[14] After Spielberg left, talks began with other directors, including: Chris Columbus, Terry Gilliam, Jonathan Demme, Mike Newell, Alan Parker, Wolfgang Petersen, Rob Reiner, Tim Robbins, Brad Silberling, and Peter Weir.^[15] Petersen and Reiner both pulled out of the running in March 2000.^[16] It was then narrowed down to Silberling, Columbus, Parker and Gilliam.^[17] Rowling's first choice was Terry Gilliam.^[18] However on 28 March 2000 Columbus was appointed as director of the film, with Warner Bros. citing his work on other family films such as Home Alone and Mrs Doubtfire as influences for their decision.^[19]

Steve Kloves was selected to write the screenplay for the first film. He described adapting the book as "tough", as it did not "lend itself to adaptation as well as the next two books." Kloves was sent a "raft" of synopses of books proposed as film adaptations, with Harry Potter being the only one that jumped out at him. He went out and bought the book, and became an instant fan. When speaking to Warner Bros. he stated that the film had to be British, and had to be true to the characters.^[20] David Heyman was confirmed to produce the film.^[19] Rowling received a large amount of creative control for the film, an arrangement that Columbus did not mind.^[21]

Warner Bros. had initially planned to release the first film over the 4 July 2001 weekend, making for such a short production window that several of the originally proposed directors had withdrawn themselves from contention. Eventually, due to time constraints, the date was put back to 16 November 2001.^[22]

Casting the roles of Harry, Ron and Hermione[link]

Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint at the premiere of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 in Trafalgar Square, London on 7 July 2011.

In 2000, after a seven month search, lead actor Daniel Radcliffe was discovered by producer David Heyman and writer Steve Kloves seated just behind them in a theatre. In Heyman's own words, "There sitting behind me was this boy with these big blue eyes. It was Dan Radcliffe. I remember my first impressions: He was curious and funny and so energetic. There was real generosity too, and sweetness. But at the same time he was really voracious and with hunger for knowledge of whatever kind."

Radcliffe had already established himself as an actor in the 1999 BBC television production of David Copperfield in which he played the title role's childhood years. Heyman convinced Radcliffe's parents to allow him to audition for the part of Harry Potter, which involved Radcliffe being filmed. ^[7] (This screen test footage was released via the first set of Ultimate Editions in 2009.)^[23] Rowling was enthusiastic after viewing Radcliffe's filmed test, saying she didn't think there was a better choice for the part of Harry Potter.^[7][24]

Also in 2000, the then unknown British actors Emma Watson and Rupert Grint were selected from thousands of auditioning children to play the roles of Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley, respectively. Prior to them being chosen, their only previous acting experience was in school plays. Grint was eleven years old and Watson ten at the time they were cast.^[25]

Los Angeles Times writer Geoff Boucher, who conducted the above-mentioned interview with Heyman, added that the casting of the three major roles "is especially impressive in hindsight. The trio's selection was arguably one of the best show-business decisions over the past decade... they have shown admirable grace and steadiness in the face of teen superstardom."^[7][24]

Production[link]

David Heyman has produced all the films in the franchise with his company Heyday Films, while David Barron joined the series as an executive producer on Chamber of Secrets and Goblet of Fire. He was later appointed producer on the last three instalments. Chris Columbus was an executive producer on the first two films alongside Mark Radcliffe and Michael Barnathan, but became a producer on the third film alongside Heyman and Radcliffe. Tanya Seghatchian was an executive producer on the third and fourth films, with Lionel Wigram joining the team on the final three films. J. K. Rowling, the author of the series, was asked to become a producer on Goblet of Fire, but declined. However, she accepted the role on the two-part Deathly Hallows.^[26] Heyday Films and Columbus' company 1492 Pictures collaborated with Duncan Henderson Productions in 2001, Miracle Productions in 2002 and P of A Productions in 2004. Even though Prisoner of Azkaban was the final film produced by 1492 Pictures, Heyday Films continued with the franchise and collaborated with Patalex IV Productions in 2005. The sixth film in the series, Half-Blood Prince, was the most expensive film to produce. The seventh instalment in the book series, Deathly Hallows, was split into two cinematic parts by Warner Bros. as they thought it would "do justice to all the words and ideas in the amazing story." The two parts were filmed back-to-back from early 2009 to summer 2010, with the completion of reshoots taking place on 21 December 2010; this marked the end of filming Harry Potter. Heyman stated that Deathly Hallows was "shot as one film" during production, but is released in two feature-length parts.^[27]

Directors[link]

After Chris Columbus had finished working on Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, he was hired to direct the second film, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. The production started within a week after the release of the first film. Columbus was set to direct all eight entries in the series,^[28] however he did not want to return for the third film as he claimed he was "burned out".^[29] He moved to the position of producer, while Alfonso Cuarón was approached for the role of director. He was initially nervous about directing the instalment as he had not read any of the books or seen the films. After reading the series, he changed his mind and signed on to direct as he had immediately connected to the story.^[30] David Heyman found that "tonally and stylistically, [Cuarón] was the perfect fit."

David Yates directed the most films in the series, including the two-part finale Deathly Hallows.

Because production of the fourth instalment, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, had to be initiated before the worldwide release of the third film, Mike Newell was selected to be the director. During production of this adaptation, David Yates visited Leavesden Film Studios to observe filming as he was set to helm the next entry in the franchise, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. Yates also directed Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, becoming the only person to have guided more than one Potter film since Columbus. Heyman commented on the directing style of Yates, remarking that he is "a great director with a keen visual sense who fills each frame with humanity and compassion for his characters."^[31] In an interview released in June 2011, Chris Columbus remarked on the growth of the series, stating that "the relationship between Harry, Ron and Hermione was just beautifully executed, it's exactly where I would have hoped those characters to have gone and I think David Yates [has drawn] phenomenal performances from them."^[32]

David Heyman also commented on the "generosity of the directors" by revealing that "Chris spent time with Alfonso, Alfonso spent time with Mike and Mike spent time with David, showing him an early cut of the film, talking through what it means to be a director and how they went about it and any sort of titbits that they can pass on. And it's a really collegial and supportive environment between directors, but also I think within Leavesden itself."^[33] Daniel Radcliffe explored the style of all the directors in the series, saying that "he [David Yates] took the charm of the films that Chris [Columbus] made and the visual flair of everything that Alfonso [Cuarón] did and the thoroughly British, bombastic nature of the film directed by Mike Newell and he's added his own sense of grit and realism to it that perhaps wasn't there so much before."^[34]

With the exception of Columbus, each director has made a cameo appearance in their respective film: Alfonso Cuarón appears as a wizard in The Three Broomsticks in Prisoner of Azkaban; Mike Newell is briefly heard as the radio presenter in Goblet of Fire; and David Yates features within a moving portrait in Order of the Phoenix.

Scripts[link]

Steve Kloves wrote the screenplays for all but the fifth film, which was penned by Michael Goldenberg. Kloves had direct assistance of Rowling, though she allowed him what he described as "tremendous elbow room". Rowling once asked Kloves to keep being faithful to the books,^[35] thus the plot and tone of each film and its corresponding book are virtually the same, albeit with some changes and omissions for purposes of cinematic style, time and budget constraints.

In an interview with FirstShowing.net, David Heyman briefly explained the book-to-film transition. He commented on Rowling's involvement in the series, stating that she understands that "books and films are different" and is "the best support" a producer could have. Rowling has overall approval on the scripts, which are viewed and discussed by the director and the producers. Heyman also said that Kloves is the "key voice" in the process as he "breaks down" the novels and that "certain things" need to be excluded from the scripts due to the filmmakers' decision to keep the main focus on Harry's journey as a character, which would ultimately give the film a defined structure. Heyman mentioned that some fans "don't necessarily understand the adaptation process" and that the filmmakers would love to "have everything" from the books in the films, but noted that it is not possible as they have "neither time nor cinematic structure" to do so. He finished by saying that "there's always tough decisions on what we leave in and what we leave out" and that "it's a really considered process."^[36]

Cast and crew[link]

Aside from the three lead actors, other notable cast members include Robbie Coltrane as Rubeus Hagrid, Alan Rickman as Severus Snape, Maggie Smith as Minerva McGonagall, and Tom Felton as Draco Malfoy. Richard Harris, who played the role of Professor Albus Dumbledore, passed away on 25 October 2002 causing the role to be re-cast for the third installment, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. David Heyman and director Alfonso Cuarón chose Michael Gambon to portray the character of Dumbledore, which he did for all succeeding films. Notable recurring cast members include Helena Bonham Carter as Bellatrix Lestrange, Warwick Davis as Filius Flitwick, Ralph Fiennes as Lord Voldemort, Brendan Gleeson as Alastor Moody, Richard Griffiths as Vernon Dursley, Jason Isaacs as Lucius Malfoy, Gary Oldman as Sirius Black, Fiona Shaw as Petunia Dursley, Timothy Spall as Peter Pettigrew, David Thewlis as Remus Lupin, Emma Thompson as Sybill Trelawney, Helen McCrory as Narcissa Malfoy, Miriam Margoyles as Pomona Sprout, Julie Walters as Molly Weasley, Mark Williams as Arthur Weasley and James and Oliver Phelps as Fred and George Weasley.

The series has seen many returning crew members from various departments, including: Nick Dudman, creature effects designer; Amanda Knight, make-up designer; Jany Temime, costume designer; Fiona Weir, casting director; Tim Burke, visual effects supervisor; Peter Doyle, digital film colourist; Greg Powell, stunt coordinator; and David Holmes, stunt double.

Set design[link]

The Hall of Christ Church in Oxford, England, the inspiration for the studio film set of the main hall of Hogwarts.^[37][38]

The production designer for all eight films is Stuart Craig. Assisted by Stephanie McMillan, Craig has created iconic sets pieces including the Ministry of Magic, the Chamber of Secrets, Malfoy Manor and the layout for the CGI Horcrux Cave. Due to the fact that the novels were being published as the films were being made, Craig was required to rebuild some sets for future films and alter the design of Hogwarts.

Cinematography[link]

There have been six different directors of photography in the franchise: John Seale worked on the first film; Roger Pratt on the second and fourth; Michael Seresin on the third; Slawomir Idziak on the fifth; Bruno Delbonnel on the sixth; and Eduardo Serra on the seventh and eighth. Delbonnel was considered to return for both parts of Deathly Hallows, however he declined and stated that he was "scared of repeating" himself.^[39] Delbonnel's cinematography in Half-Blood Prince gained the series its only Academy Award nomination for Best Cinematography.

Editing[link]

Along with continuous changes in cinematographers, there have been five film editors to work in post-production on the series: Richard Francis-Bruce edited the first instalment; Peter Honess did the second; Steven Weisberg did the third, Mick Audsley did the fourth; and Mark Day edited films five to eight.

Music[link]

John Williams scored the first three films and received Academy Award nominations for the first and third films.

The Harry Potter series has had four composers. John Williams was the first composer to enter the series and is known for creating Hedwig's Theme, which is heard at the start of each installment. Williams scored the first three films: Philosopher's Stone, Chamber of Secrets, and Prisoner of Azkaban. However, the second entry was adapted and conducted by William Ross due to Williams' conflicting commitments.

After Williams left the series, Patrick Doyle scored the fourth entry, Goblet of Fire. In 2006, Nicholas Hooper started work scoring Order of the Phoenix. Hooper also composed the soundtrack to Half-Blood Prince.

In January 2010, Alexandre Desplat was confirmed to compose the score for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1.^[40] The film's orchestration started in the summer with Conrad Pope, the orchestrator on the first three Potter films, collaborating with Desplat. Pope commented that the music is "exciting and vigorous" and "those who love melodies, harmonies and emotions in their film scores should be pleased. Reminds one of the old days."^[41]

In November 2010, the Warner Bros. website was updated to confirm that Desplat was set to return to score Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2.^[42] Director David Yates stated that he wanted John Williams to return to the franchise, but their schedules did not align due to the urgent demand of a rough cut of the film sooner than was possible.^[43] The final recording sessions of Harry Potter took place on 27 May 2011 at Abbey Road Studios with the London Symphony Orchestra, orchestrator Conrad Pope and composer Alexandre Desplat.^[44]

Doyle, Hooper and Desplat introduced their own personal themes to their respective soundtracks, while keeping a few of John Williams' themes.

Visual effects[link]

There have been many visual effects companies to work on the Harry Potter franchise. Some of these include Rising Sun Pictures, Double Negative, Cinesite, Framestore and Industrial Light & Magic. The latter three have worked on all the films in the series, while Double Negative and Rising Sun Pictures began their commitments with Prisoner of Azkaban and Goblet of Fire respectively. Framestore contributed by developing many memorable creatures and sequences to the series.^[45] Cinesite were involved in producing both miniature and digital effects for the films,^[46] while other various companies evolved details, surroundings, locations, animation and computer generated characters.

Final filming[link]

On 12 June 2010, filming of the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 and Deathly Hallows – Part 2 was completed with actor Warwick Davis stating on his Twitter account, "The end of an Era – today is officially the last day of principal photography on 'Harry Potter' – ever. I feel honoured to be here as the director shouts cut for the very last time. Farewell Harry & Hogwarts, it's been magic!".^[47] However, reshoots of the epilogue scene were confirmed to begin in the winter of 2010. The filming was completed on 21 December 2010, marking the official closure of filming the Harry Potter franchise.^[48] Interestingly, exactly four years ago on that day, author J. K. Rowling's official website revealed the title of the final novel in the series – Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.^[49]

Plot[link]

[edit] Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (2001)

Directed by Chris Columbus. Harry Potter is an orphaned boy brought up by his unfriendly aunt and uncle. At the age of eleven, half-giant Rubeus Hagrid informs him that he is actually a wizard and that his parents were murdered by an evil wizard named Lord Voldemort. Voldemort also attempted to kill one-year old Harry on the same night, but his killing curse mysteriously rebounded and reduced him to a weak and helpless form. Harry became extremely famous in the Wizarding World as a result. Harry begins his first year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and learns about magic. During the year, Harry and his friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger become entangled in the mystery of the Philosopher's Stone which is being kept within the school.

[edit] Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002)

Directed by Chris Columbus. Harry, Ron, and Hermione return to Hogwarts for their second year, which proves to be more challenging than the last. The Chamber of Secrets has been opened, leaving students and ghosts petrified by an unleashed monster. Harry must face up to claims that he is the heir of Salazar Slytherin (founder of the Chamber), learns that he can speak Parseltongue, and also discovers the properties of a mysterious diary only to find himself trapped within the Chamber of Secrets itself.

[edit] Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)

Directed by Alfonso Cuarón. Harry Potter's third year sees the boy wizard, along with his friends, attending Hogwarts School once again. Professor R. J. Lupin joins the staff as Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, while convicted murderer Sirius Black escapes from Azkaban Prison. The Ministry of Magic entrusts the Dementors of Azkaban to guard Hogwarts from Black. Harry learns more about his past and his connection with the escaped prisoner.

[edit] Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005)

Directed by Mike Newell. During Harry's fourth year, the Dark Mark appears in the sky after a Death Eater attack at the Quidditch World Cup, Hogwarts plays host to a legendary event: the Triwizard Tournament, there is a new Defence Against the Dark Arts professor Alastor Moody and frequent nightmares bother Harry all year. Three European schools participate in the tournament, with three 'champions' representing each school in the deadly tasks. The Goblet of Fire chooses Fleur Delacour, Viktor Krum and Cedric Diggory to compete against each other. However, curiously, Harry's name is also produced from the Goblet making him a fourth champion, which results in a terrifying encounter with a re-born Lord Voldemort.

[edit] Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007)

Directed by David Yates. Harry's fifth year begins with him being attacked by Dementors in Little Whinging. Later, he finds out that the Ministry of Magic is in denial of Lord Voldemort's return. Harry is also beset by disturbing and realistic nightmares while Professor Umbridge, a representative of Minister for Magic Cornelius Fudge, is the new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher. Therefore the rebellion involving the students of Hogwarts, secret organisation Order of the Phoenix, the Ministry of Magic and the Death Eaters begins.

[edit] Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009)

Directed by David Yates. In Harry's sixth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Lord Voldemort and his Death Eaters are increasing their terror upon the Wizarding and Muggle worlds. Albus Dumbledore persuades his old friend and colleague Horace Slughorn to return to Hogwarts as a professor as there is a vacancy to fill. There is a more important reason, however, for Slughorn's return. While in a Potions lesson, Harry takes possession of a strangely annotated school textbook, inscribed 'This is the property of the Half-Blood Prince', which contains astonishing information. Meanwhile, Dumbledore and Harry secretly work together to discover the method on how to destroy Voldemort once and for all. As romance and hormones lurk within the castle's walls all year, Draco Malfoy struggles to carry out a deed presented to him by the Dark Lord.

[edit] Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 (2010)

Directed by David Yates. After unexpected events at the end of the previous year, Harry, Ron, and Hermione are entrusted with a quest to find and destroy Lord Voldemort's secret to immortality – the Horcruxes. It is supposed to be their final year at Hogwarts, but the collapse of the Ministry of Magic and Voldemort's rise to power prevents them from attending. The trio undergo a long adventure with many obstacles in their path including Death Eaters, Snatchers, the mysterious Deathly Hallows and Harry's connection with the Dark Lord's mind becoming ever stronger.

[edit] Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 (2011)

Directed by David Yates. After destroying one Horcrux and discovering the significance of the three Deathly Hallows, Harry, Ron and Hermione continue to seek the other Horcruxes in an attempt to destroy Lord Voldemort. However, now that the Dark Lord has obtained the yet unbeatable Elder Wand, he aims to complete his final stage to ultimate power and launches an attack on Hogwarts School, where the trio return for one last stand against the dark forces that threaten to take over the Wizarding and Muggle worlds.