Who here has never watched Harry Potter, never read one of the books, or knows nothing about the Harry Potter universe?

[SC Minnie]

I have no interest.

 

[Uncle Coaster]

I’ve been to Universal Orlando and that’s pretty much the extent of my knowledge outside of references to HP in other shows I watch or conversations I’ve had with people.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

How these people feel about Harry Potter is how I feel about Star Wars lol

Now those I’ve watched since the originals, and all the updates.

 

[Moliphino]

I enjoyed the books as a kid (I was about the target age for them when they started coming out). I got bored/annoyed by the movies after a while and I'm not sure if I ever saw the last ones. Book to movie adaptions are rarely satisfying when you read the books first. Haven't been to Universal since before any HP stuff opened.

My 8 year old nephew is working his way through the books now and enjoying them.

 

[C&Jx2]

I enjoyed the books as a kid (I was about the target age for them when they started coming out). I got bored/annoyed by the movies after a while and I'm not sure if I ever saw the last ones. Book to movie adaptions are rarely satisfying when you read the books first. Haven't been to Universal since before any HP stuff opened.

My 8 year old nephew is working his way through the books now and enjoying them.

I actually refused to read the books because I hated the movies. When my husband was deployed I was bored and picked one up and couldn't stop. I've read the series multiple times but still don't really care for the movies.

 

[BrianL]

I have never watched one of the movies nor read the books. Most of what I know about it comes from working in a store that sold some merch back when it first hit big and going to Universal Studios. I really have never found it that appealing.

 

[DeeBee3]

I started reading the series in my late 20s. The books were out when I was much younger than that, but I never heard of them until my college roommate wanted to see the 1st movie. I went with her to oblige and I thought it was boring. That's why I always read books before watching the movies.

I love reading so I picked up the books and was hooked. I eventually watched the movies.

My mother-in-law (65) just started reading the books because my daughter loves the books. She kept saying it was too kiddy or like sci-fi for her. We told her just to read the 1st book. She is completely into the books. I think she is going to be starting the 4th one soon. It's very cute. She texts us things about it and now she can talk to my daughter about stuff.

That being said, not everyone likes to read and not everyone likes fantasy/adventure books. My husband has never read the books, but he watched all the movies with me and really enjoyed them.,

 

[mom2rtk]

I hadn't watched or read any HP until the pandemic hit. Then I decided, if not now, when? So I watched them with my college age daughter. More than once. Went to Universal summer 2021 to visit the Wizarding World. And January 2022. I love that I have gotten to know this universe with my daughter finally. It's become a special shared interest with us. I can't believe I waited this long to jump in.

 

[TippyThomas]

I don't watch television or movies and I also don't enjoy reading fiction books. It's not something I would have been exposed to growing up and the same holds true in my adult life. It's just not something I'm interested in at all.

 

[Mysterian]

I've seen a total of three movies. Never read the books. I get the appeal for the cozy world of Hogwarts, but overall the universe doesn't draw me in. And so much of it seems so familiar.

Harry and his owl are replicas of Tim Hunter from DC/Vertigo, who quietly vanished once WB bought HP.

There's many creatures/beings that resemble those of The Lord of the Rings: trolls, giant spiders, wizards, etc. Granted, some are common enough. Others are more specific: Voldemort/Sauron and the Dementors/Ringwraiths.

Star Wars is in there too, with one example being the Harry's many, many, many similarities to Luke Skywalker. I get that the Heroes Journey archetypes will tend to feel similar, but elements of HP feel totally derivative. In the end, I suppose it's the way these similarities are blended that appeal to the fans. Especially with young characters that young readers can relate to.

 

[JLTraveling]

I was NOT going to buy into the hype when the first books came out. Just convinced that it was a stupid fad. Then I had a roommate who was obsessed. She kept trying to talk me into reading the series. At that point, only the first four books had been released.

One rainy afternoon I was home by myself and bored, so I reluctantly picked up the first book. And was immediately hooked. I read my way through all four, and by the time Order of the Phoenix came out, I was standing in line for the midnight release. Been to every book and movie release since then. And yes, I have costumes and an interactive wand and did a whole group costume thing for MegaCon a few years ago and I've been sorted...it's amazing how easy it is to get hooked

 

[mom2rtk]

I don't watch television or movies and I also don't enjoy reading non-fiction books. It's not something I would have been exposed to growing up and the same holds true in my adult life. It's just not something I'm interested in at all.

Unless you believe in spells, potions and the like, this isn't non-fiction.

 

[TippyThomas]

Unless you believe in spells, potions and the like, this isn't non-fiction.

Sorry, I meant fiction books. I read non-fiction. I will edit my post.

 

[fla4fun]

I tried to watch the first HP movie, but didn’t make it even halfway through before it lost my interest. Based on that, I didn’t bother with the books. It’s not a genre I am typically interested in, so I wasn’t completely surprised. It was just so popular that I thought I should try. I am not a UO fan, so I haven’t even been to the parks since the HP area opened. I believe my last trip to UO was back in the ’90s when I received a complimentary ticket at work. I think IOA had just opened at the time, because the ticket was for both parks and I remember watching the Hulk coaster (not a huge thrill ride fan either).

I feel the same way about all the Marvel stuff Disney is doing. I don’t have any interest in it at all. I am not a huge Star Wars fan either, although I did at least see the first three movies when they came out long ago. My favorite Disney park has always been Epcot, and particularly the Epcot of the ‘80s and early ‘90s. That probably tells you more than you care to know about what I like when it comes to entertainment. It’s good that we don’t all like the same things. That would be very boring.

 

[RedAngie]

I never read any of the books and only saw part of the first film.

My HP knowledge is from the rides at Universal. I like the one with Helena Bonham Carter.

P.S. Ranger beat the Flyers in OT last night,

 

[Buzz Rules]

I never read any of the books and only saw part of the first film.

My HP knowledge is from the rides at Universal. I like the one with Helena Bonham Carter.

P.S. Ranger beat the Flyers in OT last night,

Philly 7- Houston 0

P.S. Helena Bonham Carter = Bellatrix Lestrange

 

[TipsyTraveler]

I’ve never read the books or seen the movies. I’m only familiar with it to the extent that it’s seeped into my brain due to its presence in pop culture, so I know some character and place names, I know there are “houses” (but can’t name them), stuff like that. My husband has the books but I've never enjoyed reading fiction, fantasy even less so. I also cannot relate at all to the earlier post saying the movies are inescapable in public places. I can’t think of a single time I’ve ever seen those movies playing somewhere out in the wild. Of course, if it was on in a hotel room or somewhere I had control of the tv, I would change the channel. The last time I watched tv in a hospital it was Rick & Morty.

 

[Mle8308]

Me! Just doesn't interest me, at all.

 

[georgina]

My kids were the age to read them as they came out, my 2 oldest are into scifi and fantasy so they devoured them. I love the Harry Potter stories for the same reason I love Lord of the Rings. The idea that courage, bravery, and loyalty of underdogs can defeat a powerful evil force is inspiring and gives me hope. Sometimes I need that reminder when looking at the world.

 

[1420Elexismc]

I never read any of the books, but have seen all the movies many times