Clockwise from top left: Lego owl (Photo: Lego), Harry Potter store (Photo: Angela Weiss/AFP/Getty Images), DVD set (Photo: Warner Bros. Home Video), Funko Pop (Photo: Funko), Quidditch (Photo: Jack Taylor/Getty Images), Wizarding World Of Harry Potter (Photo: Universal Studios Hollywood).Graphic: Karl Gustafson
For those who somehow haven’t heard already, this November 16 marks the 20th anniversary of the cinematic release of Harry Potter And The Sorcerer’s Stone, which transformed J.K. Rowling’s print vision of the young wizard’s life into a sort of quasi-reality.
For many people, Sorcerer’s Stone marked their entry point into the Potterverse, which eventually consisted of seven HP volumes from Rowling. Seven more movies would follow. (And we’re not counting the Fantastic Beasts franchise).
In response to fans’ voracious appetites surrounding The Sorcerer’s Stone’s anniversary, various brands have delivered everything from Lego sets to Broadway shows, from TV series to magic wands, and beyond. Here’s a selective sampling of Potter experiences, games, and merchandise.
Harry Potter Lego sets
For those who somehow haven’t heard already, this November 16 marks the 20th anniversary of the cinematic release of Harry Potter And The Sorcerer’s Stone, which transformed J.K. Rowling’s print vision of the young wizard’s life into a sort of quasi-reality.For many people, Sorcerer’s Stone marked their entry point into the Potterverse, which eventually consisted of seven HP volumes from Rowling. Seven more movies would follow. (And we’re not counting the Fantastic Beasts franchise).In response to fans’ voracious appetites surrounding The Sorcerer’s Stone’s anniversary, various brands have delivered everything from Lego sets to Broadway shows, from TV series to magic wands, and beyond. Here’s a selective sampling of Potter experiences, games, and merchandise.
Harry Potter Lego sets
As long as the Harry Potter movies have existed, there have been There are 110 sets in all now, ranging from super-simple builds to a and a The brick-building company’s entry into the 20th anniversary fray is a Bringing together a number of LEGO builds and some non-Lego props like Harry’s glasses, the set celebrates all things Potter, from chocolate frogs to Tom Riddle’s diary. Hedwig sits atop the pile, holding Harry’s invitation to Hogwarts and narrowly dodging a Golden Snitch. At $249.99, it’s not the most affordable Lego set around, but for fans it could be worth every penny.
Those looking to play through the Harry Potter franchise themselves can probably skip the wildly inconsistent EA games series that accompanied each film’s release (especially since most of them are several gaming generations out of date). Instead, consider Traveller’s Tales Lego Harry Potter games, which handily consolidate the franchise into two installments (covering years 1-4 and 5-7, respectively), and feature all the charm and stress-free, family-friendly gameplay that the Lego games have applied to Star Wars, Marvel, Lord Of The Rings, and more. (The full collection, available on PS4, Xbox One, and Switch, will run you between $20 and $50, depending on the system.) The more patient, meanwhile, can hold out for , which is due next year on PC, PlayStation, and Xbox. It promises to take the Wizarding World open-world, offering a more action-focused and modern take on the franchise when it finally arrives.
, but has emerged as a content source, offering Potter fans a place to connect, get the latest Potter-related news, and take quizzes to determine their Hogwarts house and Patronus. For the 20th anniversary, the site and Wizarding World brand has and promising deep-dive looks into scenes from Sorcerer’s Stone every Wizarding Wednesday, as well as pop-ins from some of the cast and crew. Wizarding World has also App users can admire themselves in the legendary hat, snap a selfie, and even make a short movie about why they think they belong in a certain house.
Harry Potter theme parks and studio tours
Since 2014, Harry Potter fans have been able to step into a real-life version of the magical world thanks to the , , and . In the parks’ Wizarding World Of Harry Potter areas, fans can dip into Olivanders for a new wand, sample the sweets at Honeydukes, and even catch a show by the Frog Choir. There are Potter-themed roller coasters and restaurants, as well as snow-tinged Christmas celebrations.For an even more official Potter experience, there’s , which lets fans venture onto actual sets from the Potter films, including Hogwarts’ great hall. There are also props from the movies and the miniature Hogwarts used for flyover scenes; fans can even try out green screen technology to take a broom flight over jolly old London. It’s probably the closest a fan can get to actually being in a Harry Potter film.
Harry Potter movie reissues
Could a significant cinematic anniversary pass without the film’s studio releasing a commemorative edition of that movie? Of course not. Warner Bros. has announced not one, not two, but three collectors’ edition reissues, ranging from to an almost $140 collection of , packed into a box that looks like the Hogwarts Express. It comes complete with a Hogwarts train ticket, and a 32-page booklet commemorating the first movie.
Harry Potter TV shows
Harry Potter is officially branching out into TV for The Sorcerer’s Stone 20th, with . Premiering on Nov. 28, the four-part series is hosted by Helen Mirren and seeks to test superfans’ knowledge of Harry Potter trivia. Actors from the series, including Tom Felton and Simon Fisher-Becker, will pop in, as well as Potter superfans Pete Davidson and Jay Leno. (Who knew?) Winning teams will advance, bracket style, in the hopes of winning not just a trophy, but also a Harry Potter shopping spree, a trip to Universal Orlando, tickets to , and an advance screening of the new Fantastic Beasts movie, due out sometime in 2022.
Harry Potter brick-and-mortar stores
You don’t have to go to theme parks to buy Harry Potter swag. There’s an official Harry Potter store in New York. Part fan experience, part retail establishment, the location offers VR experiences, an Instagram-friendly interior, and even a Butterbeer bar. There’s a wand shop, of course, as well as a section selling all manner of Potter-inspired sweets. The store just opened in April, so those who want to shop should be patient: Visitors have to join a digital queue for entry, then show up at their allotted time slots.
Harry Potter clothes and accessories
There are dozens upon dozens of companies making branded Harry Potter clothing, accessories, and jewelry, sold everywhere from Target to Pottery Barn to Pandora. Some items are cooler or cuter than others; we’re particularly partial to . If you want a good overview of everything that’s available across all types of apparel, , as it carries more than 2,000 Potter-related items.On the anniversary tip, (though nothing about it seems specific to that movie). The line includes Hogwarts house polo shirts, cute kiddo jammies, and classic cardigans that, frankly, we wish were also available in adult sizes.
Harry Potter Funko Pops
It should come as no surprise that Funko has gone heavy on Harry Potter. According to a fan site, there are about 160 Potter-related Funko Pops, from exclusives that were only carried at certain chains to multiple versions of Harry Potter himself. Only about , , and . There’s more to come this November, when the company releases its including a bloodied Potter with the Sorcerer’s Stone, Harry and Hedwig at the train station, and a “mini moment” featuring a tiny Severus Snape. All are
Harry Potter Quidditch
If you’re itching to find out how quidditch, a sport played on flying brooms translates to real life, you’re in luck: U.S. Quidditch has a number of tournaments and matches scheduled throughout November, including its Great Lakes Regional Collegiate and Club tournaments, which just wrapped up this past weekend. There are still matches later this year in Tallahassee, Florida; Syracuse, New York; and Medford, New Jersey. Check or to find a local club.
Harry Potter cast Cameos
Looking to celebrate Harry Potter and The Sorcerer’s Stone’s big 2-0 with something a little more personal? Let us call your attention to the . Particularly of interest for fans of the first movie are ; ; and character actor David Bradley, who plays the ominous and angry Filch. You can also nab shout-outs from four different Weasleys: , , , and .