Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
Nov. 16, 2001
Fun Fact: “The kids liked to get the makeup people to give them gashes,” Robbie Coltrane, who played Hagrid, told EW in 2001. “Daniel got one to give him a black eye, and he came in in the morning and the other ones said, ‘Oh my! What happened?”‘
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Nov. 15, 2002
Fun Facts: Hugh Grant was in the running to play Lockhart, a part that ultimately went to Branagh. “Ken seems to disappear into any role,” Columbus told EW in 2002. “I didn’t want people to see Gilderoy and say, ‘Oh my! That’s Hugh Grant!”‘
“Who knows how many [of the Potter films] I’ll do?” Radcliffe told EW in 2002. “I’m doing the third, but after that they probably won’t want me. But it’s been good while it’s lasted.”
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
June 4, 2004
Fun Fact: At his first lunch with the young stars, Cuarón instructed each to write an essay about their character. Watson turned in an 11-page tome (“It was the first time I had thought about Hermione’s character in such detail,” she said in 2004), while Grint — in a move fitting Ron Weasley — blew off the assignment.
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Nov. 18, 2005
Fun Fact: Radcliffe trained for six months for the complex underwater sequence in the tournament’s second challenge. “There was talk of someone else doing it and superimposing my face on it. That would have looked like rubbish,” he said. “I’m glad I did it — despite the two ear infections.”
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
July 11, 2007
Fun Fact: The fifth book is the longest in the series, yet Order of the Phoenix is the shortest of the films. Scenes that got the ax involved Dobby, tireless reporter Rita Skeeter, and Ron’s triumph in Quidditch.
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
July 15, 2009
Fun Fact: This film marks the last time the characters spend an academic year at Hogwarts, and thus the last time the actors had to wear school uniforms. Radcliffe didn’t miss them. “I was hoping they’d throw them on a giant pyre,” the actor told EW. “When you’re 18, one of the worst things to be wearing while trying to chat up a girl on the set is a school uniform. You look like a kid! You’re not going to score dressed like that!”