Everything you need to know about the Harry Potter franchise Hero Image

Harry Potter has been enchanting families for over 20 years – and even now, it’s still beloved among thousands of fans.

Whether you consider yourself a member of Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff or Slytherin, the love of the franchise continues to endure.

And now, thanks to Sky Cinema, you can find the entire franchise all under one roof – plus some extra content to boot.

First launching as a book series by J.K. Rowling in 1997, the world of Harry Potter has evolved into an entire Wizarding World – including West End shows, a huge exhibition, a never-ending supply of specialist shops and, of course, not one but TWO movie franchises.

The first film launched in 2001, and shot its young child cast to superstardom with 10 years of movies that followed.

Here’s everything you need to know before you start your annual re-watch (robes are recommended, but not required).

Who is in the cast of Harry Potter?

The Harry Potter movies feature a treasure trove of hundreds of British icons, although not all of them appear in every film.

The key cast members to know, and make the most appearances in the franchise, are:

The Students

  • Daniel Radcliffe (Weird! The Al Yankovic Story, Miracle Workers) as Harry Potter

  • Emma Watson (Perks of Being a Wallflower, Beauty and the Beast) as Hermione Granger

  • Rupert Grint (Snatch, Servant) as Ron Weasley

  • Tom Felton (The Flash, Rise of the Planet of the Apes) as Draco Malfoy

  • Matthew Lewis (Me Before You, Avoidance) as Neville Longbottom

  • Oliver Phelps (Last Night in Soho, Danny and the Human Zoo) as George Weasley

  • James Phelps (Silent Witness, Last Night in Soho) as Fred Weasley

  • Bonnie Wright (The Sea, Those Who Wander) as Ginny Weasley

  • Evanna Lynch (My Name is Emily, My Freaky Family) as Luna Lovegood

The Teachers

  • Michael Gambon (The King’s Speech, Gosford Park) as Professor Albus Dumbledore

  • Alan Rickman (Die Hard, Love Actually) as Professor Severus Snape

  • Dame Maggie Smith (Downton Abbey, Gosford Park) as Professor Minerva McGonagall

  • Robbie Coltrane (Cracker, National Treasure) as Groundskeeper Hagrid

  • Imelda Staunton (The Crown, Pride) as Dolores Umbridge

  • Brendan Gleeson (Banshees of Inisherin, In Bruges) as Alastor ‘Mad-Eye’ Moody

The Death Eaters

  • Ralph Fiennes (Red Dragon, The Constant Gardener) as Lord Voldemort

  • Helen McCrory (Peaky Blinders) as Narcissa Malfoy

  • Helena Bonham-Carter (Fight Club, The King’s Speech) as Bellatrix LeStrange

  • Jason Issacs (Star Trek: Discovery, Hook) as Lucius Malfoy

The Order of the Phoenix

  • Gary Oldman (The Dark Knight trilogy, Darkest Hour) as Sirius Black

  • David Thewlis (KAOS, The Omen) as Remus Lupin

  • Julie Walters (Billy Elliot, Mamma Mia) as Molly Weasley

  • Mark Williams (Shakespeare in Love, 101 Dalmatians) as Arthur Weasley

  • Natalia Tena (Game of Thrones, John Wick 4) as Nymphadora Tonks

Sir Richard Harris played Professor Albus Dumbledore in Philosopher’s Stone only, with Gambon taking over the role following the actor’s death in 2002.

How many films are in the Harry Potter franchise?

There are eight films in the Harry Potter series, broken down from the seven books by J.K. Rowling that inspired them.

These are:

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

Harry Potter’s life changes forever when, on his 11th birthday, he discovers he’s a wizard.

Not just any wizard either, he is The Boy Who Lived – to date the only person to survive a confrontation with the notoriously evil Lord Voldemort.

Sent to live with his ‘muggle’ aunt and uncle after his mother and father died at the hands of Voldemort as child, Harry has the truth hidden from him until now.

After receiving a letter from Hogwarts Witchcraft and Wizardry, Harry is introduced to a magical world unlike anything he could ever imagine.

But figures from his unknown past have been stirring at the news of his return, and soon he finds himself in mortal danger in order to save Hogwarts and the entire Wizarding World.

Find out more about Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone here.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Harry has found his feet as a wizard, and while his cruel non-magical aunt and uncle are still his guardians, he at least has a reunion with best mates Ron and Hermione to look forward to back at school.

But after crash-landing in his second year with a thud, Harry and his schoolmates are left terrified by a mysterious monster lurking the halls, petrifying its victims and leaving a chilling message on the walls: ‘The Chamber of Secrets has been opened’.

Now on a mission to find out what the chamber of secrets is, and where, soon Harry finds himself on a new adventure in order to protect those around him.

Find out more about Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets here.

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Harry’s third year at Hogwarts gets off to a shaky start when news breaks that Sirius Black, a notorious killer, has managed to break out of Azkaban prison.

Azkaban prison is specially made for wizards and witches, and was previously considered inescapable, guarded by terrifying Dementors that suck the happiness out of the people around them.

Soon the Dementors descend on Hogwarts in order to track down Sirius, convinced that Harry is his next prime target.

But it turns out there’s more to Sirius than meets the eye, and holds the key to Harry’s past.

Find out more about Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban here.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Harry starts his fourth year on a high – he’s been reunited with his godfather, and it appears that he may have a relatively normal year.

And what a year for it too, with the Tri-Wizard Tournament, which sees three Hogwarts go head-to-head with two European schools in a big celebration.

Each school has one representative competing for them, and all who want to participate have to put their name into the Goblet Of Fire, who then chooses.

But things go awry when the Goblet gives Harry’s name, despite him not putting his name forward and being a fourth name.

In a break of tradition, Harry suddenly finds himself thrust into the centre of the chaos, but there are dark forces at play, leading to tragedy and the shock return of a long-considered-dead face.

Find out more about Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire here.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

With Voldemort officially back in the Wizarding World, the Ministry of Magic is refusing to accept it, instead claiming Harry is fear-mongering.

In response to Harry’s “lies”, the Ministry appoints the cruel Dolores Umbridge to Hogwarts, who strips back the school’s curriculum to its bare bones.

Desperate to be prepared and protected, and growing increasingly frustrated at the absence of his mentor, Professor Dumbledore, Harry, Ron and Hermione need to think fast.

Inspired by the Order Of The Phoenix – a secret club previously run by Harry’s parents, Sirius, Remus Lupin and others – they decide to start their own in order to teach and battle spells with their classmates.

But a chilling prophecy signals something much bigger to come.

Find out more about Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix here.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

As Voldemort’s followers, the Death Eaters, cause chaos across both the wizarding world and the world of muggles, the once sacred halls of Hogwarts are no longer safe.

But the now 16-year-old students have another scary thing to face: hormones, with long-held feelings between friends potentially blossoming into something more.

Dumbledore begins to prepare Harry for the tough road ahead, while at school he finds help in the shape of a book that once belonged to someone known as the Half Blood Prince.

However, when the spells in the book prove more powerful and dangerous than he could have imagined, he tries to find out the identity of this mystery student.

The truth leaves him in shock, and an ally falls as the war for the wizarding world grows more and more dangerous.

Find out more about Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince here.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part One

After a heartbreaking loss, Harry and the members of the Order of The Phoenix go on the attack against Voldemort and the Death Eaters.

A friend leaves Harry, Ron and Hermione three mysterious items that could hold the key to helping them defeat Voldemort.

As the Ministry falls under the power of the Death Eaters, Harry, Ron and Hermione have to flee, and discover that Voldemort has split his soul and hidden them in items known as Horcruxes.

If they destroy the Horcruxes, then they can destroy the wizard. Leaving Hogwarts behind, they head on a mission to track down the items.

But with the Death Eaters on their trail, what comes next is perilous, threatens the core trio’s friendship, and puts the lives of everyone involved in jeopardy.

Find out more about Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part One here.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part Two

In the dramatic conclusion to the Harry Potter film series, the ultimate battle of good vs evil is finally upon us.

Ahead of the fight, Harry, Ron and Hermione continue their mission to track down the Horcruxes that keep Voldemort immortal in order to destroy him for good.

But a twist leaves Harry coming to a gut-churning conclusion.

As Voldemort’s Army on the grounds of Hogwarts – the school rises up to defend themselves and the world as they know it.

Only one can win as Harry and Voldemort come face-to-face for the final time.

Find out more about Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part Two here.

Are there any spin-offs to the Harry Potter franchise?

Yes. The Harry Potter series gave birth to a wider franchise known as the Wizarding World.

This includes the prequel Fantastic Beasts trilogy, which starts in the year 1926.

All three are also available on Sky Cinema and NOW.

The movies are:

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016)

In 1926, Newt Scamander, an acclaimed magizoologist, arrives in New York to continue his research into magical creatures.

But when some of the animals he keeps in his magical suitcase break free into the human world, he needs to round them up before they cause too much trouble and expose the Wizarding World.

On his adventures, he makes a friend in ‘No-Maj’ (non-magical) Jacob, but finds himself in trouble with the Wizarding Authorities who believe him to be in league with dark wizard Gellert Grindlewald.

Meanwhile, relentlessly cruel No-Maj Mary Lou preaches to the human world about witches and wizards being real, but gets more than she bargained for in the shape of her adopted son, Credence.

Find out more about Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them here.

Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (2018)

A year on from the events of the first Fantastic Beasts, and dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald becomes a man on the run after escaping authorities.

But his followers are ready to support him as he starts a campaign to take over and destroy the non-magical world.

Newt, who is now working in London, is asked to track down Credence by both the Ministry of Magic and Albus Dumbledore, who has his own secret past with Grindelwald.

Soon, he’s reunited with New York pals Jacob, Queenie and Tina on an adventure in Paris, but Grindlewald’s influence is set to tear them apart.

Meanwhile, Credence is on a mission of his own, looking to track down his birth family.

Find out more about Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindlewald here.

Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore (2022)

Albus Dumbledore and Gellert Grindelwald’s past comes out in full in this third installment of the Fantastic Beasts franchise.

Now in 1932, Newt is continuing his work as a magizoologist as Grindelwald and his devoted followers come up with a plan to rig an election in his favour and get him into power.

Loyalties are tested with the world on the brink of war, and the fate of the Wizarding World lies in the hands of a magical creature known as a Qilin.

Will there be a happy ending, or will chaos reign?

Find out more about Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore here.

What else can I watch connected to Harry Potter?

Here at Sky, we’re here for you when it comes to everything to do with the Wizarding World – including must-watch documentaries and quizzes that are available now.

David Holmes: The Boy Who Lived

Available now on Sky Documentaries

In this heart-wrenching documentary, Daniel Radcliffe reunites with his Harry Potter stuntman David Holmes.

David, who was a prolific gymnast as a child, became close friends with Daniel while they worked together on the franchise, but tragedy struck while filming the penultimate film.

The accident left David with a debilitating spinal injury and needing a wheelchair.

As Daniel and his closest stunt colleagues rally to support David and his family in their moment of need, it is David’s extraordinary spirit of resilience that becomes their greatest source of strength and inspiration.

Find out more about David Holmes: The Boy Who Lived here.

Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts

Available now on Sky Max and NOW

For the first time since the end of their Harry Potter journey, Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson reunite to reflect on the smash-hit franchise.

With brand new interviews with some of the key cast members and crew, the group pay tribute to this period of their lives, the cast who have since passed, and share behind-the-scenes secrets of life growing up in Hogwarts’ walls.

Helena Bonham Carter, Robbie Coltrane, Tom Felton, Ralph Fiennes, Jason Issacs, Matthew Lewis, Evanna Lynch, Gary Oldman, James Phelps and Oliver Phelps are among the contributors.

Harry Potter: Hogwarts Tournament of Houses

Available now on Sky Max and NOW

Dame Helen Mirren hosts the ultimate quiz show for Potterheads in Harry Potter: Hogwarts Tournament of Houses.

Split into four teams representing the four houses of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry – Gryffindor, Slytherin, Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff – superfans go head-to-head in order to win the Tournament of Houses Cup.

The prize pack also includes the ultimate Harry Potter trip to New York – including a $1000 shopping spree at the Harry Potter store, tickets to see Harry Potter and the Cursed Child on Broadway, and an advance screening of Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore.

Over the course of the four episodes, they are surprised with faces from the Wizarding World franchise including Matthew Lewis, Tom Felton, Dan Fogler and Luke Youngblood.

The Harry Potter franchise is available now on Sky Cinema and NOW