Editor’s note: This story was originally published on Nov. 16, 2024.

A look back at local, national and world events through Deseret News archives.

On Nov. 16, 2001, the first film in the Harry Potter series, “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone” — or in the U.S., “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” — debuted in theaters around the world.

Ahh, Harry Potter. The child wizard. Over the next 10 years, fans waited, then watched all eight movies, and debated them. We stayed up for midnight showings. Halloween costumes reflected the impact.

Now, more than 20 years after the fact, most of the world has become acquainted with J.K. Rowling’s “Harry Potter” book series, the blockbuster movies, the inevitable controversies, the spinoffs.

We’ve seen the young actors become adults. But no

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