Analysis of the Harry Potter films

By Alima Ali

Generic Conventions

The Harry Potter films are based on a Haybridge genre of fantasy and adventure. The costume,
location and the best seller books are all generic conventions of the film. Alnwick castle also known
as being the location of Hogwarts is a primarily recognisable generic convention. Certain props that
are used within the film such as wizardry robes, wands, brooms and the balls used in the wizardry
sport of Quidditch are also highly recognisable conventions of the Harry Potter series.

Institution

The Harry Potter films are filmed in Pinewood Studios (Scotland) but are funded and distributed by
Warner Brothers who are a leading film industry. Warner Brothers are renowned for making
successful family blockbuster films and so, are able to produce high-budget films. This allows them
to make great use of CGI and other visual effects.

As Warner Brothers are a leading film distributor, they were able to cast well known British
actors/actresses such as Robbie Coltrane, Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and also Rupert Grint.

Audience

The Harry Potter series is a best seller and so, readers and audiences have high expectations for the
films. As Harry Potter is part of a seven book series, the film makers must ensure that they are able
to portray a fluid story line throughout the films that meet audiences expectations. The audience are
the critics and so, expect the film to contain some of the important and most crucial parts that they
read in the books.

As it is a family film, the audience expect the film to be targeting audiences of different age groups,
therefore being diverse as possible. As the Harry Potter series is written by a British author,
audiences will in turn expect to have British cast members playing the role of some of the main
characters.