With the weather getting colder, the evenings getting darker, and fall and winter break coming up, now is the perfect time for an epic movie marathon. There’s no better way to get into the holiday spirit than to binge a nostalgic and comforting series, which for me means breaking out the Harry Potter movies. This series is one of my favorites simply for the vibes, and I think many people would agree, as it is one of the most widely loved film franchises of all time. Seriously, if you don’t like it, or if you are living under a rock and you haven’t seen them, what are you doing?
One of the most important parts of a successful Harry Potter marathon is to plan it for a weekend that is either snowy or rainy. This type of weather really adds to the ambiance, and it’s simply not the same viewing experience without the gloomy, cozy vibes. Personally, I like to watch the franchise right after Thanksgiving but before December, so I can begin to be in the holiday spirit without actually watching Christmas movies in November. Grab lots of blankets, put on a cute PJ set, and follow along as I tell you how to plan the ultimate watch party, including a timeline for watching, decor to set the mood, and the perfect themed snacks!
Timeline
The series includes eight movies, with a total running time of about 20 hours. This means that you can watch all the movies in one night if you are feeling really ambitious. I, however, am confident that I wouldn’t be able to stay awake that long, so my ideal timeline breaks the movies up over two days. This gives time for a few hours of sleep in between.
Start your watch party on Friday night with the first movie, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, around 5 p.m. Follow this with movies two and three, which will end around 12:30 a.m. In the morning, start the fourth movie around 10 a.m., which gives you at least a solid eight hours of sleep. Throughout the day, watch the fifth and sixth movies, ending at around 5:30 p.m. That just leaves us with the Deathly Hallows duo to round out the entire series.
Before we complete the story, though, it’s time for dinner. Order your favorite takeout for pickup to get a little change of scenery and to give your legs a stretch, and then start the last two movies around 7 p.m. By 11:30 pm, you will be in tears as Harry, Hermione, and Ron’s story comes to an end.
Decor
Now that we have gone over when to watch, it’s time to transform the room so it feels like you arrived right at Hogwarts. Here are eight decor ideas that I love to make the space more on theme.
1. Letters from Hogwarts
A great way to invite friends to the watch party is to write them invitations decorated to look like the acceptance letter Harry receives from Hogwarts in the first movie. The signature red wax seal would go above and beyond to set the vibes.
2. Floating Candles
In the films, several scenes in the Great Hall feature floating candles. To mimic this, attach a thin string to a fake candle, and thread this string through a small hook on the wall. This will give the illusion that the candles are magically floating in the air.
3. Chamber of Secrets mirror
In the second movie, one scene shows bloody writing on the wall, giving the characters a peek at the problems they are about to face. The message reads: “ The Chamber of Secrets has been opened, enemies of the heir… beware.” Recreate this by writing the message on a mirror in lipstick. Make sure to use your creepiest handwriting.
4. Hogwarts Express trolley
Another staple of the Harry Potter movies is the snack trolley pushed on the Hogwarts Express, which offers students the opportunity to buy endless amounts of candy and sweets. The three-tiered white carts that many of us have in our dorms are perfect for simulating this. Simply fill with candy and create a label.
5. Platform 9 ¾
The iconic Platform 9 ¾, which Hogwarts students use to access their train, provides the perfect entrance into a Harry Potter watch party. Cut red paper to mimic bricks and make a simple sign to simulate this experience.
6. Dementors
In the third movie, viewers are introduced to the terrifying dementors. Create your own dementors with black Halloween cloths or nets hung from the ceiling in three different places to make a head and two arms.
7. Wanted posters
In the third and the fifth movies, there are “wanted” posters for the prisoners locked away in Azkaban, including Sirius Black and Bellatrix Lestrange. Easily replicate these by finding copies online, printing them out, and hanging them around your watch party.
8. Trail of spiders
There are several instances of spiders in the franchise, namely the giant spider Aragog. Potter must follow a spider trail at one point. Using fake spiders from the store to recreate this by sticking them to the wall to make a path out to a window or door.
Snacks
Along with decor that sets the ambiance, themed snacks elevate the experience and make you feel like another character in the films. Here are eight snacks that look delicious and are so fun to prepare.
1. “Happee Birthdae Harry” cake
An iconic symbol of the franchise, it is almost necessary to recreate the cake that Hagrid makes for Harry’s birthday in the first movie. This is a simple round cake with pink frosting and some green writing. Don’t worry if you aren’t a professional — Hagrid literally sits on the cake in the movie — it is supposed to look messy.
2. Pretzel stick wands
Every character in the movies needs their wand to practice magic, so it seemed fitting for us muggles to have a wand as well. Only these ones will be made of chocolate. To make these, dip large pretzel rods into chocolate and then create different swirls across each one. Remember, every wizard’s wand is unique.
3. Pizza pocket Hogwarts letters
For a savory option, simple pizza pockets can be made to resemble the Hogwarts letters received by students before the start of the term. A piece of pepperoni acts as the wax seal.
4. Chocolate frogs
A classic sweet in the Harry Potter universe, the chocolate frogs are one of the most recognizable treats. Recreate these by simply melting down some chocolate and putting it into a silicone frog mold.
5. Cauldron of popcorn
While this may seem basic, popcorn is a staple for any movie night. Spice things up by displaying the snack in a large witch’s cauldron, or even by adding different flavored popcorns into the mix.
6. Sorting hat cupcakes
In the first film, the Sorting Hat places each character into their respective house, and these Sorting Hat cupcakes will do the same for guests. Each is filled with one of the four house colors (red, blue, green, or yellow), simulating the sorting ceremony.
7. Polyjuice potion
In the movies, a polyjuice potion allows the user to transform themself to look like another person for a limited amount of time. Unfortunately, this polyjuice potion won’t do that, but it makes up for that in taste. A combination of Sprite and lime sherbet gives this potion its signature green color.
8. Butterbeer
Throughout the movie, the golden trio often enjoys butterbeer at the Leaky Cauldron. Unlike the polyjuice potion, this drink is consumed simply for the taste. A combination of butterscotch, root beer, and a whipped cream topping creates the signature butterbeer drink.
Conclusion
All eight movies are currently available on HBO MAX and Peacock with the basic subscriptions, as well as a variety of other streaming platforms with subscription add-ons. If I haven’t convinced you already with my article, you should definitely plan a watch party for the franchise soon. This is the perfect way to spend a cozy weekend with friends, and great for when you want to get into the holiday spirit without watching Christmas movies already. Whether you follow this guide exactly or only do a couple of these suggestions, watching the Harry Potter movies allows us muggles to experience magic even for just a short time.