Harry Potter is a film series based on the eponymous novels by author J. K. Rowling.

The series
is distributed by Warner Bros. and consists of eight fantasy films, beginning with Harry Potter
and the Philosopher's Stone (2001) and culminating with Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows –
Part 2 (2011).[2][3] A spin-off prequel series that will consist of five films started with Fantastic
Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016), marking the beginning of the Wizarding World shared
media franchise.[4]
The series was mainly 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.[5] Michael Goldenberg wrote the screenplay for Harry Potter and the Order of
the Phoenix (2007), while the remaining films' screenplays were written by Steve Kloves.
Production took place over ten years, with the main story arc following Harry's quest to overcome
his arch-enemy Lord Voldemort.[6]
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the seventh and final novel in the series, was adapted into
two feature-length parts.[7] Part 1 was released in November 2010, and Part 2 was released in
July 2011.[8][9]
Deathly Hallows – Part 1, Philosopher's Stone, and Deathly Hallows – Part 2 are among the 50
highest-grossing films of all time, and ranking them as the 48th-, 47th-, and 13th-highest-
grossing films, with Philosopher's Stone and Deathly Hallows – Part 2 grossed over $1 billion.
Without inflation adjustment, it is the third highest-grossing film series with $7.7 billion in
worldwide receipts.
In late 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 one of the most successful cinematic franchises of all
time.[10]
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).[11] A demand Rowling
made was that the principal cast be kept strictly British, allowing nevertheless for the inclusion of
many Irish actors, such as 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.[12] 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.[13]
Although Steven Spielberg initially negotiated to direct the first film, he declined the offer.
[14]
 Spielberg contended that, in his opinion, there was every expectation of profit in making the
film. He claims 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".[15] In the "Rubbish Bin" section of her website, Rowling
maintains that she had 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."[16]
After Spielberg left, conversations began with other directors, including Chris
Columbus, Jonathan Demme, Terry Gilliam, Mike Newell, Alan Parker, Wolfgang Petersen, Rob
Reiner, Tim Robbins, Brad Silberling, and Peter Weir.[17] Petersen and Reiner both pulled out of
the running in March 2000.[18] It was then narrowed down to Columbus, Gilliam, Parker, and
Silberling.[19] Rowling's first choice was Terry Gilliam.[20] 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.[21]