In this world there is only one guarantee, and that is change. As time marches on and as the dust begins to settle it can be seen that nothing lasts forever. In the movie business, that is the harsh reality. For most, it is out with the old and in with the new and what the next big picture is. Yet, for every ten cheap Hollywood cash-ins, there is one picture or franchise that endures and can be defined as a cult-classic. Harry Potter, the story of a young boy who enters the wizarding world in a classic story of good versus evil has spawned many sequels over the years along with merchandise and of course the upcoming play, The Cursed Child. With the continued success and longevity of the franchise, it has in turn built up quite a ravenous fan base over the years.

To begin with, from my own experience, I have seen two or three of the movies in theater before and they were always packed and I wasn’t surprised. On the other hand, this time around when I went to see The Prisoner of Azkaban in theaters, I was stupefied to see only a handful of people in attendance. From the old man wearing a Hogwarts scarf to the college kids donning full Hogwarts robes, it was an interesting sight to behold. In contrast, the little kids in the audience seemed to show no care for the movie at all which, to me, showed a distinction in just how times have changed. Even though it hasn’t been that long since the last movie’s premiere, it showed how most people have moved on. Yet, a minority continues to cling to the franchise and soak in every last detail about it.

Moreover, just the facts that these people were willing to come see the movie on the big screen shows how dedicated of a fan base the films have garnered. Between DVDs, online streaming, YouTube, and even pirating, these people spent their hard-earned money to come enjoy the show, something even I failed to realize at first. All in all, the re-release had made about $1.5 million dollars in only 330 theaters worldwide despite the average Harry Potter film making $200 million. Clearly these movies don’t make as much as they originally did due to a variety of catalysts, yet those numbers are still staggering because people simply don’t have to go to the movies when they can buy it in the bargain bin for five bucks. Yet, they still do it anyway, and that is what sets a franchise like Harry Potter apart from the rest.

So, whether you love it or hate it, Harry Potter has to be regarded as a piece of literary and film history. Very few franchises are able to last a year after they are created, yet it has not only survived for fifteen years but also thrived. Plus, I can guarantee in another fifteen years it will still be around and still be loved by all generations of people. With that being said, Harry Potter has evolved into something greater than a film. It has been cemented in the panels of history.