Here is a comprehensive summary of the Harry Potter film series:

The Harry Potter film series, produced by Warner Bros. Pictures, consists of eight fantasy films based on J.K. Rowling's beloved novels, starting with Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (2001) and ending with Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 (2011), with a spin-off prequel series (Fantastic Beasts) launching in 2016. The films star Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson as the iconic trio Harry, Ron, and Hermione, and were directed by four different filmmakers—Chris Columbus, Alfonso Cuarón, Mike Newell, and David Yates—with the story arc following Harry's quest to defeat the dark wizard Lord Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes). The final novel was split into two parts, released in November 2010 and July 2011, and the series became a massive commercial success, grossing $7.7 billion worldwide, making it the fourth-highest-grossing film series of all time. The franchise's origins trace back to 1997 when producer David Heyman discovered the first book in his London office and, impressed by Rowling's work, helped secure the film rights for Warner Bros. in 1999 for a reported £1 million, with Rowling insisting on a strictly British and Irish principal cast. Although Steven Spielberg initially negotiated to direct the first film, he left over creative differences, and Chris Columbus was ultimately appointed in March 2000, setting the stage for one of cinema's most successful franchises.