‘Harry Potter’ 20th anniversary: every TV, movie special celebrating the franchise
The Harry Potter movie franchise is turning 20 and there are plenty of ways to celebrate.
![Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/bABWegKLdAS2YRy5eTriQL-320-80.jpg)
It was 20 years ago this month (Nov. 16 to be exact) since the world was introduced to the first film in the Harry Potter franchise, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (or Philosopher's Stone for anyone in the U.K.). 20 years since we were introduced to the trio Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint and the rest of the cast. 20 years since we heard John Williams’ iconic score and 20 years since fans got their first look at the magical Hogwarts.
The film world of Harry Potter has expanded since the first film to include nine other movies (including the spinoff franchise Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them). And, unsurprisingly, Harry Potter has also expanded into other areas of entertainment, from Broadway to theme parks to massive internet communities.
Safe to say then that there will probably be a fair amount of people excited to celebrate the Harry Potter movies for this 20th anniversary and those behind the franchise don’t look like they are going to disappoint. Here are all of the TV and movies specials, screenings and more for the Harry Potter 20th anniversary.
Harry Potter reunion
After rumors were first reported by The Sun that a Harry Potter cast could be in the works, HBO Max and Wizarding World officially confirmed the news on Nov. 16. Similar to the Friends reunion, this reunion (being called Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts) will reunite members of the Harry Potter cast, including the main trio of Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint, and a whole host of others from the movies. The trailer, which you can watch below, revealed that the reunion will debut on HBO Max on Jan. 1.
For those who do not have access to HBO Max where you live, Wizarding World reports that additional information regarding where the reunion special will be broadcast will be announced soon. The special is also expected to air on TBS and Cartoon Network in the U.S. in the spring ahead of the April 15, 2022, release of Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore.
Harry Potter: Hogwarts Tournament of Houses
Think you know everything there is to know about Harry Potter, well then you’ll be able to put that to the test with the new special quiz show, Harry Potter: Hogwarts Tournament of Houses. The show will be a four-week competition between teams representing Gryffindor, Slytherin, Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff, all vying for the Tournament of Houses championship trophy (as well as a prize package); Academy Award-winner Helen Mirren is set to host.
However, there will also be a companion digital quiz to the game show that will allow fans at home to test their knowledge, with three separate quizzes to launch on Nov. 26, Dec. 3 and Dec. 10.
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In the US, Harry Potter: Hogwarts Tournament of Houses will debut on Nov. 28 at 8 p.m. ET/PT, broadcasting simultaneously on TBS and Cartoon Network for U.S. audiences and continue for four weeks until Dec. 19. The game show is expected to debut on HBO Max too, but that won’t be until 2022.
Sadly, at this time there are no announced plans for the game show to be shown internationally...the petition starts here!
The #20YearsOfMovieMagic festivities continue! If you still don't know your Hogwarts house, discover it with the official Sorting Ceremony on our website or on the Harry Potter Fan Club app.Get sorted here 👇https://t.co/bsqlBoYvib pic.twitter.com/ETUvLxzmz1November 13, 2021
Harry Potter marathon on SyFy
The SyFy network has planned a Harry Potter movie marathon to take place all week (Nov. 8-16), including an all-day Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone marathon on Nov. 16, its official anniversary. Take some tips from the Wizarding World team on how to set up your very own movie marathon.
Here is a breakdown of the full SyFy Harry Potter marathon:
Nov. 8
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, 4:30-8:05 p.m. ET
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, 8:05 p.m.-midnight ET
Nov. 9
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, 3-6:55 p.m. ET
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, 6:55-10 p.m. ET
Nov. 10
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, 3:25-6:30 p.m. ET
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, 6:30-10 p.m. ET
Nov. 11
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, 4:25-8 p.m. ET
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, 8-11:05 p.m. ET
Nov. 12
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, 1-4:05 p.m. ET
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, 4:05-7 p.m. ET
Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, 7-10 p.m. ET
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, 11 p.m.-3 a.m. ET
Nov. 13
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, 8-11:33 a.m. ET
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, 11:33 a.m.-3:30 p.m. ET
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, 3:30-6:30 p.m. ET
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, 6:30-10 p.m. ET
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, 10 p.m.-1:05 a.m. ET
Nov. 14
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, 8-11:01 a.m. ET
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, 11:01 a.m.-2:30 p.m. ET
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, 2:30-5:31 p.m. ET
Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince, 5:31-9 p.m. ET
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1, 9 p.m.-12:13 a.m. ET
Nov. 15
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2, 12:13-3:05 a.m. ET
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, 1:30-5 p.m. ET
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1, 5-8:20 p.m. ET
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2, 8:20-11:15 p.m. ET
Nov. 16
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, 7:57-11:28 a.m. ET
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, 11:28 a.m.-2:59 p.m. ET
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, 2:59-6:29 p.m. ET
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, 6:29-10 p.m. ET
Where to stream Harry Potter movies
If you want to have your own Harry Potter movie marathon (or if you just don’t have access to SyFy) in the US all Harry Potter movies are available to stream online right now. However, you do need to check which service they're on.
For most of 2021, all eight Harry Potter films have been switching back and forth between HBO Max and Peacock. But, viewers are in luck, as currently all of the Harry Potter films are available on both HBO Max and Peacock (you need to be a Peacock Premium subscriber though to get it on the latter streaming service).
UK fans aren't quite as lucky — the films aren't available on any major streaming platform, so they'll need to fork out to rent or buy them. Both Amazon and Sky are offering a digital box-set of all eight movies for just £34.99.
Celebrate Harry Potter memories with Wizarding World
WizardingWorld.com is an online hub (created by Warner Bros. and Pottermore) for Harry Potter fans to revel in all things Potter.
So, of course, they are celebrating the 20th anniversary of Harry Potter in a special series WizardingWorld.com’s 20 Years of Movie Magic selecting 20 key moments from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, unveiling a new one every week (they began in August), along with quizzes, special features, interviews https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B2Rz25R2GaUand videos.
WizardingWorld.com's YouTube channel is another treasure trove for Potter fans. How about watching Harry Potter & The Sorcerer's Stone in just 5 minutes?
Michael Balderston is a DC-based entertainment and assistant managing editor for What to Watch, who has previously written about the TV and movies with TV Technology, Awards Circuit and regional publications. Spending most of his time watching new movies at the theater or classics on TCM, some of Michael's favorite movies include Casablanca, Moulin Rouge!, Silence of the Lambs, Children of Men, One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest and Star Wars. On the TV side he enjoys Only Murders in the Building, Yellowstone, The Boys, Game of Thrones and is always up for a Seinfeld rerun. Follow on Letterboxd.