Road to Harry Potter (HBO)
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Easter eggs
Hidden details in every movie and series: 46 in total. Tap a poster to see its eggs. Titles you haven't marked as seen stay locked so nothing gets spoiled.
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- Referencenod to comics or other movies
- Cameoa familiar face shows up
- Setupplanted now, pays off later
- Behind the scenesproduction trivia
- ReferenceHedwig's Theme in the opening
The film opens with John Williams' Hedwig's Theme playing over the logo. James Newton Howard's score weaves in that and other themes from the Harry Potter films.
source ↗ - Behind the scenesRedmayne had tried out before
Eddie Redmayne auditioned for a role in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets and didn't get it. More than a decade later, he became the lead of this new chapter.
source ↗ - SetupThe necklace Graves gives Credence
Graves hands Credence a necklace with a symbol on it: a triangle with a circle and a line inside. That symbol will show up a lot more in this saga.
source ↗ - CameoWho was behind Graves
In the final reveal, Colin Farrell's face gives way to Johnny Depp's, who only appears in those last minutes as Grindelwald.
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- ReferenceThe Mirror of Erised
The huge mirror where Dumbledore sees his younger self beside Grindelwald is the Mirror of Erised, which shows your deepest desire. It comes back later in the saga.
source ↗ - ReferenceNicolas Flamel in the flesh
The frail old man who helps the group in Paris is Nicolas Flamel, a real French alchemist tied to the legend of the philosopher's stone. Rowling had already mentioned him in the books.
source ↗ - ReferenceThe boggart lesson
Dumbledore teaches the Riddikulus spell against a boggart in a classroom with a mirrored wardrobe. The same classroom comes back later in the saga.
source ↗ - SetupA woman named Nagini
At the circus, Credence befriends Nagini, a Maledictus doomed to turn into a snake forever. Remember that name.
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- Behind the scenesMads Mikkelsen takes over Grindelwald
Johnny Depp was asked to step down in November 2020, and Mads Mikkelsen came in that same month. He said copying Depp would be "creative suicide."
source ↗ - Behind the scenesSteve Kloves returns
Steve Kloves, screenwriter of the Harry Potter films, came back to co-write this one with J.K. Rowling. It was the first time she shared screenplay duties on the Fantastic Beasts series.
source ↗ - ReferenceThe qilin comes from Chinese myth
The qilin, the creature that picks the leader, comes from Chinese mythology, where it's linked to just rulers. No wonder the film opens in China.
source ↗ - SetupAberforth's mirrors
Credence talks to Aberforth through an enchanted mirror. A mirror for talking at a distance comes back later in the saga.
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- Behind the scenesEvery stone scene, twice
Because the US title was different, every scene that names the stone was shot twice: once with the actors saying "Philosopher's" and once with "Sorcerer's."
source ↗ - CameoWarwick Davis, three times over
Besides Professor Flitwick, Warwick Davis plays the head goblin teller at Gringotts and voices Griphook, who is physically played by Verne Troyer.
source ↗ - SetupThe flying motorbike
Right at the start, Hagrid arrives with baby Harry on a flying motorbike. Keep an eye on it: that bike comes back later.
source ↗ - SetupThe Snitch caught in his mouth
In his first Quidditch match, Harry nearly swallows the Golden Snitch and catches it with his mouth. That detail will matter much later.
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- Behind the scenesRichard Harris's farewell
This was Richard Harris's final live-action film. He played Dumbledore in the first two movies. He died in October 2002, shortly before the release.
source ↗ - Behind the scenesHugh Grant as Lockhart?
At the time, reports said Hugh Grant was the first choice to play Gilderoy Lockhart. Director Chris Columbus later denied Grant was ever considered and said the two had never met.
source ↗ - ReferenceLucius and the Child Catcher
Jason Isaacs gave Lucius Malfoy a whiny tone of voice based on the Child Catcher, the villain from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968).
source ↗ - SetupA diary pierced by a fang
Notice how Tom Riddle's diary is destroyed: with a basilisk fang. That way of destroying something will come up again later.
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- Behind the scenesMichael Gambon takes over Dumbledore
After Richard Harris died, Michael Gambon took over as Dumbledore starting with this film, playing a looser, less solemn version of the headmaster.
source ↗ - Behind the scenesCuarón's homework
Alfonso Cuarón asked the trio to write an essay about their characters. Emma Watson turned in 10 pages, Daniel Radcliffe exactly two, and Rupert Grint didn't turn one in.
source ↗ - ReferenceShakespeare in the choir
"Double Trouble," the song the frog-holding choir sings at the start of term, takes its lyrics from Shakespeare's Macbeth.
source ↗ - SetupTrelawney's real prophecy
At the end of the year, Professor Trelawney goes into a trance and says the Dark Lord's servant will return to his master. She's right, and it matters later.
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- CameoPulp and Radiohead at the Yule Ball
The band playing the Yule Ball features Jarvis Cocker and Steve Mackey of Pulp, plus Jonny Greenwood and Phil Selway of Radiohead. Cocker spent three days filming.
source ↗ - Behind the scenesThe series' first PG-13
It was the first Harry Potter film rated PG-13 in the US, for "sequences of fantasy violence and frightening images."
source ↗ - Behind the scenesThe earlier Cedric
Robert Pattinson plays Cedric Diggory, but the character had already flashed by in Prisoner of Azkaban, during a Quidditch match, played by Joe Livermore.
source ↗ - SetupBarty Crouch Jr.'s tongue flick
Watch how Barty Crouch Jr. flicks his tongue early in the film. Later, Moody does the same tic. It was David Tennant's idea.
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- Behind the scenesLuna out of 15,000
Evanna Lynch won the role of Luna Lovegood at an open casting call over 15,000 other girls, in a line that stretched about a mile.
source ↗ - Behind the scenesUmbridge's kittens
The moving kitten plates in Umbridge's office came from a 24-hour shoot photographing and filming real cats.
source ↗ - Behind the scenesThe Black family tree
For the Black family tapestry at Grimmauld Place, Rowling faxed over the complete family tree, which ended up covering three walls of the set.
source ↗ - SetupDon't cut Kreacher
Kreacher the house-elf was cut from one draft of the script. Rowling warned that without him, the filmmakers would be tied in knots later on. He stayed.
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- CameoRalph Fiennes's nephew
The 11-year-old Tom Riddle at the orphanage is played by Hero Fiennes Tiffin, nephew of Ralph Fiennes, who plays Voldemort.
source ↗ - Behind the scenesAn Oscar nod for cinematography
Bruno Delbonnel was nominated for the Best Cinematography Oscar for this film's moody, gray look.
source ↗ - Behind the scenesThe burning Burrow, film only
Bellatrix and Greyback's Christmas attack on the Burrow was created for the film. David Yates wanted to inject some danger into the story.
source ↗ - SetupWho is R.A.B.?
The locket from the cave is a fake, with a note signed by someone called R.A.B. The film doesn't say who that is. It's saved for later.
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- Behind the scenesThe animated tale
"The Tale of the Three Brothers" becomes a shadow-puppet-style animation made by Framestore and directed by Ben Hibon.
source ↗ - ReferenceThe Nick Cave dance
In the tent, Harry pulls Hermione up to dance to Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds' "O Children." The scene isn't in the book.
source ↗ - Behind the scenesWhy split it in two
It was executive producer Lionel Wigram who suggested splitting the last book into two films. David Heyman resisted until he reread the book with Steve Kloves.
source ↗ - SetupThe Snitch that won't open
In his will, Dumbledore leaves Harry the Golden Snitch from his first match. Harry tries to open it and nothing happens. Keep it in mind.
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- Behind the scenesThe epilogue was shot twice
The "19 years later" scene was first shot at King's Cross. David Yates wasn't happy with the aging makeup and reshot it in December 2010 at Leavesden.
source ↗ - Behind the scenesThe secret Rickman kept
In 2000, long before the last book, Rowling told Alan Rickman what lay behind Snape's "always." He kept it to himself through nearly ten years of filming.
source ↗ - CameoKelly Macdonald as the Grey Lady
Ravenclaw's ghost, who reveals where the diadem is, is played by Kelly Macdonald. She replaced Nina Young, who played the character before.
source ↗ - Behind the scenesThe saga's biggest box office
With more than $1.3 billion worldwide, this is the highest-grossing film in the Wizarding World.
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- Behind the scenesThe wrong Emma photo
In the version that premiered, a childhood photo of Emma Roberts was shown as young Emma Watson, and the Phelps twins were labeled as each other. Both were fixed within two days.
source ↗ - Behind the scenesRowling only in archive footage
J.K. Rowling didn't film anything new for the special. She appears in under 30 seconds of archival interview footage from 2019.
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Locked. These details give away parts of the title. Mark it as seen to unlock.
Timeline
when each title takes placeFantastic Beasts
1926
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find ThemNewt Scamander and his suitcase in New York
1927
Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of GrindelwaldGrindelwald escapes and Paris takes center stage
1932
Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of DumbledoreDumbledore puts together a team against Grindelwald
The Harry films
1991–1992
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's StoneHarry learns he's a wizard and arrives at Hogwarts
1992–1993
Harry Potter and the Chamber of SecretsMysterious attacks in second year
1993–1994
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of AzkabanA prisoner breaks out of Azkaban
1994–1995
Harry Potter and the Goblet of FireThe Triwizard Tournament
1995–1996
Harry Potter and the Order of the PhoenixUmbridge at Hogwarts and Dumbledore's Army
1996–1997
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood PrincePrivate lessons with Dumbledore
1997–1998
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1Harry, Ron and Hermione away from Hogwarts
1998
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2The Battle of Hogwarts
The HBO series
1991–1992
Harry Potter (HBO) · S1The marathon's destination: the new series adapts the first book; premieres 12/25/2026.
Original text by Sagaticket. Posters: The Movie Database (TMDB); character photos via Wikipedia. This site uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB. All trademarks and titles mentioned belong to their respective owners. Streaming availability may change.