There’s nothing I love more than rewatching a movie. After a year, I feel like I forget every major detail and enjoy the thrill of watching my favorite movie for the first time all over again. The “Harry Potter” series is the perfect movie to rewatch. Even if you have a better memory than me, there are tiny details that make every viewing extra special.
The only question is, when should one watch “Harry Potter” again? Or read, if you have the time for that.
For some reason, I’ve always associated “Harry Potter” with Christmas. Which honestly makes no sense. Yeah, they celebrate the holidays in the series, but that’s only a fraction of the total twenty hours. Also, by that logic, Jurassic World is a Christmas movie. One could argue that Christmas is a plot relevant to the series. In the fourth book, the famous Yule Ball took place during Christmas. Also, every time a “Harry Potter” marathon is on TV, I feel like it is always around the holidays. To me, Christmas movies have a special magic and wonder to them. Harry Potter definitely captures that innocent feeling in the first few movies. There’s nothing more iconic than Hogwarts covered in snow or Harry receiving the Invisibility Cloak.
Despite that, by all definitions, “Harry Potter” should be a Halloween series. Harry’s parents were murdered on Halloween. There are magical creatures and ghosts, and they celebrate a Halloween feast at Hogwarts. It’s filled with spooky elements and tropes, but it’s never felt like a Halloween movie to me. I’m also not sure what makes a movie a “Halloween movie.” Do all horror movies count?
“Harry Potter” might have the ingredients to be considered a Halloween movie, but the themes itself are very Christmas-y. This might be a lame cop-out answer, but I honestly think the series works as a Halloween and Christmas movie. The first two movies capture exactly what I look for in a feel-good Christmas movie. It’s all about the power of friendship and love. The rest of the series is a bit dark and would probably not go well with holiday lights and stockings.
So when should you binge “Harry Potter”? Maybe it’s best fit for that awkward period after Halloween when it’s not appropriate to start listening to Christmas music. Or maybe you think watching Harry destroying Horcruxes is the perfect way to get in the holiday spirit. No matter the holiday, it’s all up to whatever best fits your vibe.
