On June 26, 1997, the world learned that Mr. and Mrs. Dursley, of number four, Privet Drive, were proud to say that they were perfectly normal, thank you very much. Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone was released in the United Kingdom 20 years ago today. (The title was changed to Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone in the United States, where it came out in September 1998.) To mark the occasion, author J.K. Rowling thanked the millions of readers who brought (and bought) The Boy Who Lived into their lives.
“20 years ago today a world that I had lived in alone was suddenly open to others,” she tweeted. “It’s been wonderful. Thank you.#HarryPotter20.”
20 years ago today a world that I had lived in alone was suddenly open to others. It's been wonderful. Thank you.#HarryPotter20
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) June 26, 2017
Philosopher’s Stone (which is one of those “I remember where I was when I first started reading it” moments — for me, it was in a now-nonexistent Waldenbooks in an upstate New York plaza; feel free to share yours) kicked off the Harry Potter-mania that exists to this day. Rowling’s empire includes seven books in the official series; supplemental works like The Tales of Beedle the Bard and Hogwarts: An Incomplete and Unreliable Guide; nine movies, including Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them; Pottermore; The Wizarding World of Harry Potter; and the play, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.
Here’s how others are celebrating 20 years of Harry, Ron, and Hermione.
https://twitter.com/kumailn/status/879297885862584320
https://twitter.com/HogwartsLogic/status/879286123343884288
https://twitter.com/HogwartsLogic/status/879270737823059970
It all started here. Thank you, @jk_rowling for making the muggle world a little more magical! #HarryPotter20 pic.twitter.com/twUd6x6mE2
— Katie Louise Day (@KatieLouiseDay) June 26, 2017
https://twitter.com/gilbert_helou/status/879300297029545986
Happy 20th Birthday to the book series that changed so many lives and shaped an entire generation. #HarryPotter20 pic.twitter.com/GnM66k8Ihx
— Harry Potter (@HtothePotter) June 26, 2017
#HarryPotter20 these books and this punch changed my life. Hermione has always been my hero … pic.twitter.com/r6yd0Efjus
— LaurenNYknicks 🐾🦋🏀😈 (@AaliyahNevaeh7) June 26, 2017
https://twitter.com/RomanRoadMusic/status/879305335961419776
It's been 20 years since Harry Potter and The Philosophers Stone was released in the UK! I feel so old #HarryPotter20 pic.twitter.com/5I7slsFMhg
— JP (@Jprz1321) June 26, 2017
Over the years we've read so many books and loved so many characters but there will never be anything like Harry Potter.#HarryPotter20 pic.twitter.com/ldHxMPdOWm
— Harry Potter Stuff ⚯͛ (@TheHPfacts) June 26, 2017