Since the release of the first novel, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, on June 26, 1997, the books have gained immense popularity, critical acclaim and was a commercial success worldwide. [1] The series also received some criticism including concern for the increasingly dark tone as the story progressed. Until May 2015, they had already been sold 450 million copies worldwide, making the series the best-selling history, being translated into 73 languages. [2] [3] The last four books consecutively the most sold were considered history, and the last book sold about 11 million copies in the United States in the first 24 hours after its release.
The series covers various genres, such as fantasy, school life and passage between childhood and youth (with elements of mystery, suspense, adventure and romance), and the story has many cultural meanings and references. [4] According to Rowling the main theme is death. [5] There are also many other themes in the series, such as bias and corruption. [6]
The books were originally printed in English by two major publishers, Bloomsbury in the United Kingdom and Scholastic Press in the United States. The series has been published by many publishers worldwide. Adapting to a series composed of eight films made by Warner Bros. Pictures became the most-watched film series in history. Such success has made the Harry Potter brand reached the value of $ 15 billion. [7] In addition, the theme park The Wizarding World of Harry Potter was introduced in various units of Universal Parks & Resorts.
