#15
Harry Potter
Directed by Chris Columbus, Alfonso Cuarón, Mike Newell, and David Yates
"There won't be a child in our world who doesn't know his name."
Box Office: $2.39B Domestic, $7.723B Worldwide
Why it's So Meaningful to Me: At a young age, everyone experiences their first attachment to a film franchise. The one where every subsequent film released fills them with great anticipation. For me, that would have to go to The Boy Who Lived. Admittedly, I didn't get super into the franchise until the movie version of Goblet of Fire rolled around, but from 2005 to 2011, Harry Potter was pretty much my life, similar to other kids my age growing up. I read the books cover to cover, I saw the first five movies on DVD multiple times, and the following three on TV multiple times, and each time I'm transported back to being a kid again, experiencing these well-written stories and interesting characters, watching as the films progress in their darkness and themes.
Of course what makes this even more special was the appeal this series had towards my entire family. There are very few movies that everyone in my family gets equal enjoyment out of, but the Harry Potter series is definitely one of them. The films have been rewatched multiple times over the years in the household, and the excitement between all of us when the last two movies were coming was through the roof. We all pretty much caught Pottermania, and it still sticks with us, as pretty much any time one of the movies is passed by during a channel surf, at least one of us will sit down and watch it all the way through.
But what's arguably the most important part of it all is that it kickstarted my love for fantasy and worldbuilding. The ideas of mythical creatures and unique sorcery were so fascinating and fun, which has helped me later fall in love with Lord of the Rings, Narnia, and How to Train Your Dragon, and it helps that the Wizarding World was so multi-layered and strongly developed. The ways of transportation, the structure of Hogwarts, the different blood purities, the political systems found in the Ministry of Magic, the creatures, the Quidditch matches, the towns; fucking everything! Rowling's unique universe is so well-developed, especially for a young adult series, as it takes the idea of fantasy, witchcraft, and wizardry to its full effect, all the while creating a fun, dramatic, and interesting story around it.
So due to it being my first fanboy franchise, a wonderful thing for the family to bond over, and the reason why fantasy and worldbuilding kick so much ass for me, the Harry Potter franchise holds a special place in my movie-loving heart.
And if you're wondering, yes, the whole family's beyond excited to see Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.