The Wizarding World of Harry Potter has been thrilling kids and grown-ups alike since the first book, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, was published in 1997. Following on from the blockbuster movies, fans can now explore their iconic sets and discover the magic behind bringing the Harry Potter films to life on the Warner Bros. Studio Tour in Leavesden and go on Harry Potter-themed rides at Universal Studios. Plus, of course, there’s enough merch for generations to come.
We’re going to dive into the best Harry Potter commercial campaigns, for the full lowdown on Harry Potter marketing.
Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter
Step onto the authentic sets, discover the sleight-of-hand behind spellbinding special effects and explore the behind-the-scenes secrets of the Harry Potter films with the Studios Tour. You’ll enter the iconic Hogwarts Great Hall and explore the Forbidden Forest, all before boarding the original Hogwarts Express at Platform 9 ¾ and wandering down Diagon Alley.
Located at the Studios where all eight films were produced, the Studio Tour showcases the British talent, imagination and artistry that went into making the impossible a reality on screen – and now, you can even see round Gringott’s Wizarding Bank.
This longer ad gives you a better idea of all the wonders you’ll see – including drinking butter beer, visiting Privet Drive and getting to climb aboard various forms of Potter-based transportation, with plenty of fan photos and the fuller, choral version of the theme, which also has plenty of stirring brass.
Harry Potter Max Original Series – Official Announcement
When it comes to Harry Potter promotional videos, you’d be hard-pressed to find one that’ll generate more excitement than this one. Yes, Harry Potter is finally coming to TV. Warner Bros. Discovery has officially announced its plan for a decade-long TV series that will be a ‘faithful adaptation’ of JK Rowling’s Potter books. The show will serve as an original series for Max – the new streaming service combining HBO Max and Discovery+.
The series – due to be released over the course of 10 years – will be exec produced by Rowling, Neil Blair and Ruth Kenley-Letts; David Heyman, the exec producer of the films, is also in talks to join. The show will feature an all-new cast, guaranteeing that the series will reach an entirely new generation of fans.
You’ll probably have to wait till 2025 to see the premiere, so in the meantime, here’s the announcement trailer, featuring both the iconic floating candles from the dining hall and – will they dare to change it in the future? – that theme…
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
Based on an original story written by JK Rowling, John Tiffany and Jack Thorne, set nineteen years after the events of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, this play has been lighting up the West End with magic, illusions and stage wizardry ever since its premiere in June 2016. Not to mention receiving a record-breaking eleven nominations and winning nine awards at the 2017 Laurence Olivier Awards. It’s since opened at theatres worldwide.
The story follows Harry Potter, now Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement at the Ministry of Magic, and his son, Albus Severus Potter, who’s about to attend his first year at Hogwarts.
The trailer for the ‘one of a kind theatrical experience’ introduces the characters – including Albus’s friend, Scorpius Malfoy, the son of Harry’s former enemy, Draco, and showcases some of the dramatic effects that the audience will be treated to. Combined with a soundtrack that’s heavy on orchestral drums and which builds to a heroic end, teasing, ‘our journey has only just begun’, it’s a thrilling promise of things to come.
Hogwart’s Legacy – PS5
Following the success of the original Harry Potter video games, Warner Bros. Games created the label Portkey Games, and expanded the series to include a pair of Lego video games. The games have sold over 50 million units, and grossed over $1.5 billion in video game sales, and an additional $1 billion in mobile game sales.
Hogwart’s Legacy made $850 million in its first two weeks post-launch. Set at Hogwarts in the 1800s, your character is a student who holds the key to an ancient secret that threatens to tear the wizarding world apart. Game-players can make allies, battle Dark wizards and decide the fate of the wizarding world…
The official reveal trailer uses part of the iconic main orchestral theme, amped up with epic taiko drums, as you’re promised lifelong friends, potion-brewing and taming fantastic beasts, as well as mastering spells. However, there are also dragons, trolls and all manner of other challenges to do battle with. ‘The journey ahead will reveal what you stand for…’ promises the John Hurt-esque voiceover.
Want more detail about what the game has in store for you? Then you need the official launch trailer, which reveals that the main character has ‘a rare ability to see whispers of ancient magic’ and gives an idea of the immersive graphics and some of the danger that you might have to face, as well as all the wizarding lessons.
And if you want some extra fun, then watch Tom Felton – aka Draco Malfoy – creating his character look and playing the game (including feeling right at home in the Slytherin common room!)
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 Trailer
In the epic finale to the whole story, the battle between the good and evil forces of the wizarding world escalates into a terrifying all-out war. The stakes have never been higher and no one is safe. But it’s Harry himself who may be called upon to make the ultimate sacrifice, as he draws closer to the climactic showdown with Lord Voldemort…
Harry Potter movie trailers have rarely been this foreboding or dramatic – there are crashing waves, buildings are ablaze and some of the biggest moments of the series to date are referenced, including Dumbledore’s death, in preparation for ‘the final battle’.
Blockbuster trailer music doesn’t come much bigger or better than this, either. We were all on the edge of our seats, desperate to hit the multiplex to find out Harry’s fate.
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
This piece of Harry Potter advertising aired during the 2010 Super Bowl, heralding the opening of the Islands of Adventure theme park at the Universal Orlando resort. An owl delivers an invite to two eager kids, who are shown whizzing through the world on broomsticks, being chased by a dragon and following Harry himself into Hogwarts and Diagon Alley.
The ad brings in the delicate, twinkling sounds that signify magic ahead, then increases the excitement by introducing more orchestral flourishes.
Coca Cola – Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Of course, one of the world’s biggest drinks brands is going to pair up for one of the Harry Potter product endorsements. This ad, from 2002, sees a group of boys finding a promo leaflet for a free Harry Potter collectable game piece in their bucket of chilled cans of Coke, which unleashes a Golden Snitch. This zaps around their locker room, turning their kit into broomsticks, and their football clothes into Quidditch robes, as they take to the pitch, accompanied by the main John Williams theme.
Welcome to the Magical Diagon Alley – LEGO Harry Potter
We love a LEGO ad, and the spot for the Harry Potter/Diagon Alley set is, as you’d expect, loads of fun. Another year at Hogwarts means a trip to the heart of magical London: Diagon Alley. Harry stops off at Ollivander’s Wand Shop; Ron’s been to Quality Quidditch Supplies and who’s that signing his latest book at Flourish and Blotts bookseller? None other than Gilderoy Lockhart! And, of course, Harry, Hermione and Ron would never miss out on stocking up at Weasley’s Wizard Wheezes. From a tiny LEGO Hedwig carrying the Daily Prophet swooping through the skies over the street onwards, this is an ad filled with tiny joys.
LEGO Harry Potter Collection – PS4
LEGO didn’t just create Harry Potter sets, they also launched top-selling video games. This collection saw Years 1-4 and Years 5-7 remastered on one disc for the first time.
LEGO’s creativity, plus the expansive world of Harry Potter, resulted in an exciting journey full of spell-casting, potion-making, puzzle-solving, lessons, duelling and more. Featuring content from seven books and eight films, this Harry Potter ad promises every witch, wizard… and Weasley! With 200 characters, Mandrakes, Muggles and more, this trailer is almost as exciting as the games themselves, emphasised by its driving brass, strings and drum-heavy soundtrack.
Channel 4
Channel 4 and Warner Bros. joined forces to create an exclusive ad campaign in 2016 leading up to the release of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. Created by agency Bandstand (and the appropriately-named Giant Owl Productions), the series of 20-second ads saw a famous face quizzed on Harry Potter, their favourite characters of the wizarding world and showing off their magical credentials by revealing their favourite spell, or what they think makes a great wizard.
Eddie Redmayne – Newt Scamander in the film – Alex Brooker, Davina McCall and Lauren Laverne were amongst the celebs featured. Plus, a number of Harry Potter superfans were also recruited for a series of spots.
Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore Trailer
Directed by David Yates, who directed the final four Harry Potter movies, and has now directed all of the Fantastic Beasts films, the third instalment in the spin-off prequel series takes up the story of Dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald (Mads Mikkelsen) moving to seize control of the wizarding world. Professor Albus Dumbledore (Jude Law) instructs Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) to lead an intrepid team of wizards, witches and one brave Muggle baker (now equipped with his very own wand) on a high-stakes mission.
The trailer shows that the peril has been ramped right up – gone is the cuteness of the first film, when Newt hit up New York with his magical suitcase of fantastic beasts – now we’re in a world of exploding buildings, pitched wand-based battles and, of course, some scary monsters that the team have to tackle in order to succeed.
Wizarding World Magical Minis – Hogwarts Castle
Smyths Toys invited you to recreate your favourite Harry Potter scenes and play out your own spellbinding adventures with this amazing two-foot-tall playset (personally, hanging out in Moaning Myrtle’s Bathroom sounds fun.)
Harry Potter Invisibility Cloak
For magic lovers everywhere, this is one of the ultimate Harry Potter merchandise commercials you’ve been looking for. Yes, you can make you and your friends vanish, courtesy of the invisibility cloak! You can get anyone or anything to appear to disappear right before your eyes, using only a smart device…
Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts - Trailer
Harry Potter marketing stepped up a gear when Max announced its Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts documentary. Reuniting Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson and other key cast members and filmmakers from across all eight Potter films for the first time, this was a real treat for fans.
The cast describing their life-changing memories, Ralph Fiennes having to be persuaded to play Voldemort, Helena Bonham Carter messing about with false teeth and Emma Watson and Tom Felton having a massive hug all promised the kind of get together a generation of Potterheads were dreaming of.
Harry Potter Slime Chamber Action Figure Range
We love old skool Harry Potter TV ads. Harry Potter and the Chamber of… Slime? Sure, why not? Mattel’s Action Figure range include this brilliantly gooey creation, where Harry and Draco can battle it out – even in the dark, with GLOWING SLIME.
Or if you want something that’s less likely to mess up the carpet, go for Mattel’s 2001 offering, the Harry Potter Levitating Challenge Game instead.
You can configure the elements any way you want, in order to make it more tricky to maneouvre your levitating ball around the set. The sonorous voice intoning, ‘STEADY’ makes the whole endeavor seem a tad more life and death than the two kids playing it seem to realise.
Harry Potter Championship Quidditch Game
Want more fast-fingered-fun? The Mattel Quidditch Game won’t enable you to take to the skies high above Hogwarts on a broomstick, but you will need speed and accuracy to shoot the quaffles through the hoops and then – oh joy! – catch the Golden Snitch when it appears. The two boys in the ad have the makings of world-beating sportsmen when they grow up, judging by how seriously they’re approaching this particular game.
Harry Potter Dolls
Or you can go for the more straightforward option from Mattel, with its Harry Potter Dolls. The ad’s aimed at parents who were fans of the original books (and films), who now have kids that they want to pass on their love of the Wizarding World to.
Harry, Hagrid, Snape and Luna Lovegood are just some of the HP dolls the kids are shown playing with, soundtracked by a twinkly track with subtle choral elements.
Harry Potter by Balenciaga
It may not be one of the actual Harry Potter themed commercials, but this spoof video created by Demonflyingfox is a lot of fun – and has garnered over 10 million views.
(Find out how to create your own with this explainer video):
More Magic
If you can’t get enough Harry Potter, then check out our deep dive into all the films’ soundtracks. And if you want magical music for your project, then we have everything you need, with hand-picked playlists, new releases, blockbuster trailer tracks, epic gaming and more.
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