Is Harry Potter a Christmas movie?
By Mia Johnson
With the holidays season basically here, that means it’s time to begin watching all those favorite holiday classics. Of course, films like Home Alone and Elf always get brought into the conversation nowadays. Or you can go really old school with films like Miracle on 34th Street or It’s a Wonderful Life. But at the end of the day, we know these are Christmas movies because, well, the whole plot of the films revolve around it being Christmas.
But there’s one film (or film series, rather) that’s up for debate as a Christmas movie, and that’s Harry Potter.
Now, if you’re wondering if Harry Potter is a Christmas movie, you may be referring to the first film: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. That film seems to get the most festive out of all of them when it comes to the holiday season — remember moments like Harry waking up one morning to see he’s gotten Christmas presents, and Ron joining Harry at Hogwarts for the season as the rest of the students return home to their families.
You may have even watched some of the Harry Potter films during Freeform’s (or ABC Family’s) 25 Days of Christmas run every year. (The movies no longer play on the network.) Does that make Harry Potter a Christmas movie?
Harry Potter as a Christmas movie
In the most literal of senses, no, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone is not a Christmas movie, nor are the rest of the Harry Potter films. Themes of magic, witches and wizards are more prevalent than having good-feeling moments during the holiday season.
But that surely shouldn’t stop you from watching Harry Potter as a Christmas movie. The first film, especially, is one of the more heartwarming films, even if it has its share of dark moments.
They were showing the Harry Potter movies during the 25 Days of Christmas, Freeform would often include a mix of Christmas/holiday movies in their lineup as well as general family films, hence the inclusion of Harry Potter. And the only reason Freeform stopped playing the films was because the broadcast rights were given to new networks.
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