History of Harry Potter in Timeline
The Harry Potter series, by J.K. Rowling, follows the life of Harry Potter, a young wizard, and his friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, as they navigate their education at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The central conflict revolves around Harry's battle against Lord Voldemort, a dark wizard seeking immortality and domination over the wizarding world and Muggles (non-magical people). The series explores themes of good versus evil, friendship, love, and prejudice within a magical world concealed from ordinary humans.
1964: Billboard and Nielsen comparison
In 1964, Time suggested that, on the same principle, Billboard should have created a separate "mop-tops" list when The Beatles held the top five places in its list, and Nielsen should have created a separate game-show list when Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? dominated the ratings.
1986: Rowling graduates from the University of Exeter
In 1986, J.K. Rowling graduated from the University of Exeter with a degree in French literature, and spent a year living in France afterwards.
1990: Completion of the last chapter of the final Harry Potter book
Around 1990, J.K. Rowling completed the last chapter of the final book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, specifically the epilogue.
1990: Rowling conceived the idea for Harry Potter
In 1990, J.K. Rowling conceived the idea for Harry Potter while on a train from Manchester to London.
1995: Completion of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
In 1995, J.K. Rowling completed Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone and began the process of sending the manuscript to prospective agents and publishers.
June 1997: Release of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
In June 1997, the first novel, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, was released, marking the beginning of the series' immense popularity and commercial success.
June 1997: Publication of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone in the UK
On June 26, 1997, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone was published by Bloomsbury in the United Kingdom.
1997: Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone wins UK awards
In 1997, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone won almost all of the United Kingdom awards that were judged by children.
1997: Nestlé Smarties Book Prize
In 1997, the Harry Potter series won the Nestlé Smarties Book Prize.
July 1998: Publication of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets in the UK
On July 2, 1998, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets was originally published in the UK.
September 1998: Release of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone in the US
In September 1998, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, the American version of the first book, was released in the United States by Scholastic.
1998: Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone fails to win adult judged awards
In 1998, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone failed to win any of the children's book awards judged by adults in the United Kingdom.
1998: Harry Potter shortlisted for the Guardian Children's Award
In 1998, Harry Potter was shortlisted for the Guardian Children's Award.
June 1999: Publication of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets in the US
On June 2, 1999, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets was originally published in the US.
July 1999: Publication of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban in the UK
On July 8, 1999, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban was published in the UK.
September 1999: Publication of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban in the US
On September 8, 1999, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban was published in the US.
1999: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban judged for Whitbread Awards
In 1999, Anthony Holden judged Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban for the Whitbread Awards and provided a negative review of the series.
1999: Whitbread Book of the Year controversy
In 1999, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban was entered for the Whitbread Book of the Year award for the first time, sparking controversy with one judge threatening to resign if it won. It finished second to Seamus Heaney's translation of Beowulf.
1999: Film rights sold to Warner Bros.
In 1999, J.K. Rowling sold the film rights for Harry Potter to Warner Bros. for a reported £1 million (US$2,000,000).
1999: Awards for Harry Potter in 1999
In 1999, the Harry Potter series won several awards, including a Nestlé Smarties Book Prize, a Scottish Arts Council Book Award, and the inaugural Whitbread children's book of the year award.
June 2000: The New York Times Creates Separate Best-Seller List for Children's Literature
In June 2000, The New York Times created a separate best-seller list for children's literature just before the release of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, due to the high demand for the Harry Potter series.
July 2000: Publication of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
On July 8, 2000, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire was published by Bloomsbury and Scholastic.
2000: Hugo Award nomination for Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
In 2000, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban was nominated for a Hugo Award for Best Novel.
2000: Harry Potter tops The New York Times best-seller list, new children's section created
In 2000, the first three Harry Potter books topped The New York Times fiction best-seller list. As a result, the newspaper created a new children's section covering children's books and initially counting only hardback sales.
2000: Bookstore Midnight Release Events Begin
Starting in 2000 with the publication of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, bookstores began holding midnight release events to coincide with the release of the books.
November 2001: Release of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone movie
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone movie was released on 14 November 2001.
2001: Release of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them and Quidditch Through the Ages
In 2001, J.K. Rowling released 'Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them' and 'Quidditch Through the Ages,' with proceeds benefiting Comic Relief.
![Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: The Original Screenplay [Paperback] Rowling, J.K.](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51rwCT7RwML._SL500_.jpg "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: The Original Screenplay [Paperback] Rowling, J.K.")
2001: Harry Potter Series Lands on American Library Association's Top 10 Banned Book List
In 2001, the Harry Potter series landed on the American Library Association's Top 10 Banned Book List with claims it was anti-family, discussed magic and witchcraft, contained actual spells and curses, referenced the occult/Satanism, violence, and had characters who used "nefarious means" to attain goals, as well as conflicts with religious viewpoints.
2001: Awards and recognition in 2001
In 2001, the Harry Potter series received several awards and recognitions, including a platinum award from the Whitaker Gold and Platinum Book Awards and a Scottish Arts Council Book Award. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire also won the Hugo Award for Best Novel.
November 2002: Release of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets movie
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets movie was released on 15 November 2002.
November 2002: Slate Article Likens Harry Potter to a Trust-Fund Kid
In a November 8, 2002, Slate article, Chris Suellentrop compared Harry Potter to a "trust-fund kid" in terms of his success.
2002: Harry Potter named a British pop culture icon
In 2002, sociologist Andrew Blake named Harry Potter a British pop culture icon along with James Bond and Sherlock Holmes.
2002: Harry Potter Series Lands on American Library Association's Top 10 Banned Book List
In 2002, the Harry Potter series landed on the American Library Association's Top 10 Banned Book List with claims it was anti-family, discussed magic and witchcraft, contained actual spells and curses, referenced the occult/Satanism, violence, and had characters who used "nefarious means" to attain goals, as well as conflicts with religious viewpoints.
June 2003: Worldwide Publication of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
On June 21, 2003, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix was published worldwide in English.
2003: Sign marking Platform 9 3/4 installed
In 2003, a sign marking Platform 9 3/4 was put up at the London King's Cross railway station.
2003: Harry Potter books ranked in BBC's The Big Read survey
In 2003, four of the Harry Potter books were named in the top 24 of the BBC's The Big Read survey of the best-loved novels in the UK.
2003: Shooting for Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
In 2003, shooting took place for Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, which was later released on 4 June 2004.
2003: BBC's "Big Read" survey results
In 2003, the BBC's "Big Read" survey of the UK's favourite books ranked Philip Pullman and J.K. Rowling at numbers 3 and 5, respectively, with very few British literary classics in the top 10.
2003: Harry Potter Series Lands on American Library Association's Top 10 Banned Book List
In 2003, the Harry Potter series landed on the American Library Association's Top 10 Banned Book List with claims it was anti-family, discussed magic and witchcraft, contained actual spells and curses, referenced the occult/Satanism, violence, and had characters who used "nefarious means" to attain goals, as well as conflicts with religious viewpoints.
2003: "Muggle" enters the Oxford English Dictionary
In 2003, the word "Muggle" from the Harry Potter series was added to the Oxford English Dictionary.
June 2004: Release of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban movie
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban movie was released on 4 June 2004.
2004: The New York Times splits children's list, Harry Potter books removed
In 2004, The New York Times further split the children's list, which was still dominated by Harry Potter books, into sections for series and individual books. The Harry Potter books were removed from the section for individual books.
2004: Harry Potter books read aloud in schools
In 2004, a study found that books in the Harry Potter series were commonly read aloud in elementary schools in San Diego County, California.
July 2005: Publication of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
On July 16, 2005, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince was published.
November 2005: Release of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire movie
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire movie was released on 18 November 2005.
2005: Real-life Quidditch is created
In 2005, a real-life version of the sport Quidditch was created.
2005: Trolley fixed to the wall at Platform 9 3/4
In 2005, a trolley fixed to the wall was added to the Platform 9 3/4 display at the London King's Cross railway station.
January 2006: Production begins for Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Production began in January 2006 for Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, which was released the following year in July 2007.
2006: WHSmith book of the year
In 2006, the Harry Potter series won the WHSmith book of the year award.
March 2007: "Harry Potter" most searched fan fiction subject
In March 2007, "Harry Potter" was the most commonly searched fan fiction subject on the internet.
April 2007: Barnes & Noble Reports Record Pre-Orders for Deathly Hallows
On April 12, 2007, Barnes & Noble declared that Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows had broken its pre-order record, with more than 500,000 copies pre-ordered through its site.
July 2007: Release of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix movie
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix movie was released in July 2007.
July 2007: Critical Review of Harry Potter's Moral Development
In July 2007, Ron Charles of The Washington Post commented on the cultural and marketing hysteria around the later Harry Potter books, and Jenny Sawyer of The Christian Science Monitor critiqued Harry's lack of moral struggle and ethical growth.
July 2007: Publication of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
On July 21, 2007, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the seventh and final novel, was published.
August 2007: Christopher Hitchens praises Rowling
In a August 12, 2007 review of Deathly Hallows in The New York Times, Christopher Hitchens praised Rowling for "unmooring" her "English school story" from literary precedents.
2007: Harry Potter listed in "Teachers' Top 100 Books for Children"
Based on a 2007 online poll, the US National Education Association listed the Harry Potter series in its "Teachers' Top 100 Books for Children".
2007: Rowling composed seven handwritten copies of The Tales of Beedle the Bard
In 2007, J.K. Rowling composed seven handwritten copies of 'The Tales of Beedle the Bard', one of which was auctioned to raise money for the Children's High Level Group.
2007: Harry Potter book covers depicted on UK postage stamps
In 2007, the seven Harry Potter book covers were depicted on a series of UK postage stamps issued by Royal Mail.
December 2008: International publication of The Tales of Beedle the Bard
On December 4 2008, 'The Tales of Beedle the Bard' was published internationally.
July 2009: Release of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince movie
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince movie was released on 15 July 2009.
2009: Harry Potter traveling exhibition premiered
In 2009, a Harry Potter traveling exhibition premiered in Chicago, marking another expansion of the franchise.
June 2010: Opening of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
On June 18 2010, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, a Harry Potter-themed expansion to the Islands of Adventure theme park at Universal Orlando Resort in Florida, opened to the public, featuring a recreation of Hogsmeade and the Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey ride.
November 2010: Release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 was released on 19 November 2010.
November 2010: Release of Deathly Hallows Part 1 video game
In November 2010, Part 1 of the Deathly Hallows video game was released.
July 2011: Release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 was released on 15 July 2011.
July 2011: Release of Deathly Hallows Part 2 video game
In July 2011, Part 2 of the Deathly Hallows video game debuted on consoles.
March 2012: Opening of Warner Bros. Studio Tour London
In March 2012, Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter, a behind-the-scenes walking tour featuring authentic sets, costumes, and props from the film series, opened to the public.
2012: Release of Digital Editions on Pottermore
In 2012, J.K. Rowling retained rights to digital editions and released them on the Pottermore website.
2012: Launch of Pottermore
In 2012, J.K. Rowling's website Pottermore was launched, allowing users to be sorted, be chosen by their wand, and explore additional content.
2012: Studio tour in London opened
In 2012, a Harry Potter studio tour opened in London, offering fans an immersive experience.
2012: Harry Potter-themed shop opens at King's Cross
In 2012, a Harry Potter-themed shop opened near Platform 9 3/4 at the London King's Cross railway station.
2012: Lord Voldemort featured in London Olympics opening ceremony
In 2012, the opening ceremony of the 2012 Summer Olympics in London featured a 100-foot tall rendition of Lord Voldemort.
2012: Quidditch featured in the London Olympics
In 2012, the real-life version of Quidditch was featured as an exhibition tournament in the London Olympics.
2012: Harry Potter books placed among "Top 100 Chapter Books"
In 2012, three of the Harry Potter books placed among the "Top 100 Chapter Books" of all time, or children's novels, in a survey published by School Library Journal: Sorcerer's Stone ranked number three, Prisoner of Azkaban 12th, and Goblet of Fire 98th.
2013: Prince Charles visits Platform 9 3/4
In 2013, Prince Charles visited the Platform 9 3/4 display at the London King's Cross railway station.
2014: Opening of Harry Potter-themed area at Universal Studios Florida and Universal Studios Japan
In 2014, Universal opened a Harry Potter-themed area at the Universal Studios Florida theme park, including a recreation of Diagon Alley and the Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts roller coaster ride. Also in 2014, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter opened at the Universal Studios Japan theme park in Osaka, Japan.
2015: "Back to Hogwarts Day" gains prominence
In 2015, September 1st, the day Harry Potter generally started school at Hogwarts, became known to fans as "Back to Hogwarts Day," gaining more prominence starting when J.K. Rowling suggested on social media that it was the year Harry Potter would be starting to send of off his own children to Hogwarts.
2015: Redesign of Pottermore as WizardingWorld
In 2015, the Pottermore website was redesigned as WizardingWorld, shifting its focus to providing already available information.
June 2016: Premiere of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child: Parts I and II began previews on 7 June 2016 and officially premiered on 30 June 2016 at the Palace Theatre in London's West End. The first four months of tickets were sold out within several hours upon release.
November 2016: Release of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
In November 2016, the first film in the prequel series, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, was released.
2016: Rowling acknowledges inaccuracy regarding King's Cross events
In 2016, J.K. Rowling acknowledged that she was wrong by a year regarding the King's Cross events in the epilogue.
2016: Release of three new e-books
In 2016, J.K. Rowling released three new Harry Potter e-books: 'Hogwarts: An Incomplete and Unreliable Guide', 'Short Stories from Hogwarts of Power, Politics and Pesky Poltergeists', and 'Short Stories from Hogwarts of Heroism, Hardship and Dangerous Hobbies'.
2016: Opening of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Hollywood
In 2016, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter opened at the Universal Studios Hollywood theme park near Los Angeles, California.
2016: Politics of Harry Potter Compared to 2016 Donald Trump Presidential Campaign
In 2016, an article by Diana C. Mutz compared the politics of Harry Potter to the 2016 Donald Trump presidential campaign, suggesting that themes present in the books may have played a significant role in how Americans responded to the campaign.
2016: Harry Potter Franchise Valued at $25 Billion
In 2016, the Harry Potter franchise reached an estimated total value of $25 billion, making it one of the highest-grossing media franchises of all time.
2017: Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment opens Portkey Games
In 2017, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment opened its own Harry Potter-themed game design studio, named Portkey Games.
November 2018: Estimated Book Sales Revenue Reaches $7.7 Billion
As of November 2018, the total revenue from Harry Potter book sales is estimated to be around $7.7 billion.
November 2018: Release of Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald
In November 2018, the second film in the prequel series, Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, was released.
2018: Release of Hogwarts Mystery
In 2018, Hogwarts Mystery, developed by Jam City, was released.
November 2019: Harry Potter series listed among the most influential novels
In November 2019, the BBC listed the Harry Potter series on its list of the 100 most influential novels.
2019: Harry Potter Series Lands on American Library Association's Top 10 Banned Book List
In 2019, the Harry Potter series landed on the American Library Association's Top 10 Banned Book List with claims it was anti-family, discussed magic and witchcraft, contained actual spells and curses, referenced the occult/Satanism, violence, and had characters who used "nefarious means" to attain goals, as well as conflicts with religious viewpoints.
January 2021: Live-action television series in early development
In January 2021, reports surfaced that a live-action Harry Potter television series was in early development at HBO Max, facing complicated rights issues due to an existing deal with Warner Bros. Domestic TV Distribution.
April 2022: Release of Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore
In April 2022, the third film in the prequel series, Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore, was released.
November 2022: Harry Potter Audiobooks Reach One Billion Hours Listened on Audible
As of November 2022, the Harry Potter series has been listened to for over a billion hours on Audible.
February 2023: Book Sales Reach Over 600 Million Copies
As of February 2023, the Harry Potter books have sold over 600 million copies globally, solidifying its place as the best-selling book series in history.
April 2023: Series confirmed to be in development
In April 2023, the Harry Potter series was confirmed to be in development and would be streamed on the new streaming service Max, formerly known as HBO Max.
2023: Release of Hogwarts Legacy
In 2023, Hogwarts Legacy, developed by Avalanche Software, was released.
February 2024: Series debut announced for 2026
In February 2024, Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav announced that the Harry Potter series would debut on Max in 2026.
June 2024: Series moved from Max to HBO
In June 2024, it was announced that the Harry Potter series was moved from Max to HBO.
September 2024: Open casting call for leading roles
In September 2024, an open casting call for the three leading young actors in the U.K. and Ireland was announced, with filming scheduled to start in summer 2025.
November 2024: Mark Rylance rumored to play Dumbledore
In November 2024, it was reported that Mark Rylance was the front runner to play Dumbledore in the new Harry Potter series.
2024: Fans boo at King's Cross Station after no Hogwarts Express announcement is made
In 2024, fans showed up at King's Cross Station on September 1st, but booed when no Hogwarts Express announcement was made at 11 a.m. Organizers had encouraged fans to participate in virtual events, while in-person events were held at other locations like Grand Central Terminal in New York City and Hamburg, Germany.
February 2025: John Lithgow cast as Dumbledore
In February 2025, American actor John Lithgow confirmed reports that he had been cast as Dumbledore in the Harry Potter series.
March 2025: Essiedu and McTeer in negotiations
In March 2025, it was reported that English actor Paapa Essiedu and English actress Janet McTeer were in negotiations to portray Severus Snape and Minerva McGonagall respectively in the Harry Potter series.
2026: Series debut on Max
In 2026, the Harry Potter series is scheduled to debut on Max.
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