The Harry Potter Novels Celebrate Their 20th Anniversary
It’s now been 20 years since Harry Potter debuted and just saying that is enough to make me feel incredibly old. Apparently I was 7 when these books came out and so you could say I have literally grown up with this world that J.K. Rowling created. These were some of the first books I can remember counting down the days to their release. I would have my parents drive me to the book store (this was before amazon and audible) to pick up a fresh copy and throw myself into the next installment of this great franchise. Apart from the countless awards the books themselves earned, their influence is something that cannot be ignored in almost every aspect of life since their release. When it comes to movies, the Harry Potter series is responsible for launching the careers of some of the most successful actors and actresses of this generation, including Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson. They grossed billions in revenue world wide and (for better or worse) shaped the way young adult franchises would be adapted to the big screen, forever.
The series gained such a following that it spawned multiple theme parks, several plays, spin off novels, board games, video games, and the latest spin off movie “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.” The Fantastic Beast series promises many more amazing entries to the cinematic universe. The works of JK Rowling have inspired a generation of young people (who are now adults like myself) and will continue to inspire people of all ages for years to come.