Harry Potter Casts a Spell on Two Major Streaming Services Ahead of HBO Adaptation

Harry Potter is among the long-running franchises that have fans worldwide who keep coming back for nostalgia. The Wizarding World, Hogwarts, the dark arts, the golden trio, and more are some elements that are known even to casual onlookers. The franchise had a great run and grossed over $7.78 billion worldwide owing to its legendary cast, its evolution over the years from Chris Columbus’ bright, childlike tone to the darker, auteur-driven style of Alfonso Cuarón and David Yates. The movies have left a lasting legacy that can’t be touched and started a Pottermania that is now reigniting in the wake of the upcoming reboot.

The franchise started under director Chris Columbus, who took on the daunting task of introducing the magical world in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. It launched Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter, with Rupert Grint as Ron Weasley and Emma Watson as Hermione Granger. The feature also introduced Robbie Coltrane as Rubeus Hagrid, Richard Harris as Albus Dumbledore, Alan Rickman as Severus Snape, and Maggie Smith as Minerva McGonagall – all of whom played beloved characters over the years, and are etched in our memories.

The Philosopher’s Stone follows an orphan, Harry Potter, who lives with his abusive aunt and her family. All his life, Harry has been ill-treated by his relatives and made to sleep in a dusty cupboard under the stairs. Things change on his 11th birthday, when he discovers that he’s a wizard and has been admitted to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. His life changes forever when he discovers he was the only person who survived the dark lord Voldemort, who once tried to conquer the wizarding world. As Harry goes through his first year, along with his friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, he stops Voldemort once again from returning to power.

'Harry Potter and Philosopher’s Stone' Is a Streaming Mainstay

With a new reboot around the corner, fans are revisiting the franchise starter as Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone has spent over 250 days on Apple TV Store, as per FlixPatrol. Further, the film has been going strong on HBO Max, spending 87 days on its charts and another 146 days on Prime Video's. Certainly, fan’s love for the magical world knows no bounds.