One of HBO Max’s biggest surprises was the whole Harry Potter saga, but subscribers won’t get to enjoy them for long as they will be leaving the platform in August – here’s why. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, theaters all over the world are closed and many studios have had to delay their releases, and so streaming services have been the go-to source of entertainment. WarnerMedia joined the world of streaming just in time with HBO Max, which has an interesting catalogue with content from Cartoon Network, Crunchyroll, HBO, Warner Bros., Lionsgate, and more, as well as original content.

HBO Max arrived with a long list of TV shows and movies ready to stream, such as Friends, Game of Thrones, Doctor Who, and all movies from Studio Ghibli, and while not all movies from Warner Bros. were available from day one, the platform had one big, last-minute surprise: all eight Harry Potter movies were ready to stream. Before that, Harry Potter fans could only enjoy the movies either by renting or buying them, as they were not available on any platform due to streaming rights, which Warner got back right on time. However, fans of the Harry Potter movies will have to binge-watch them as soon as possible as they are leaving HBO Max in August.

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The streaming rights to all Harry Potter movies were owned by NBCUniversal until 2025, which is why they were not included on the list of content available at launch on HBO Max. Given the popularity of the movies, as well as how profitable they still are, getting the rights back was “high on the priority list” for the people behind HBO Max, who reached a deal with NBCUniversal right before the platform’s launch. At the time, the terms of the deal were unknown (for example, it was unclear if they could still air on NBCUniversal’s linear TV networks or not), but with the recent announcement of them leaving HBO Max soon, some details from the deal came to light.

As it turns out, the deal between HBO Max and NBCUniversal only allowed the former to house the Harry Potter movies for three months, after which they have to be removed. However, it’s unknown if they will move to NBCUniversal’s streaming service, Peacock, and if so, if they will stay there until 2025 or if there will be a new deal between those companies. Given that the Harry Potter universe has been involved in a lot of controversy lately due to J.K. Rowling’s comments on the transgender community, many believed that the movies leaving HBO Max had something to do with that, but it’s all about streaming rights going back and forth.

The Harry Potter movie series will be leaving HBO Max on August 25, so fans still have time to rewatch it. The saga’s next home remains unclear, but it wouldn’t be surprising if they make an appearance on Peacock in the near future. If not, all movies will be available to rent and buy on different platforms, so fans will not be completely left without a dose of the Wizarding World.

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Adrienne Tyler
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Adrienne Tyler is a features writer for Screen Rant. She is an Audiovisual Communication graduate who wanted to be a filmmaker, but life had other plans (and it turned out great). Prior to Screen Rant, she wrote for Pop Wrapped, 4 Your Excitement (4YE), and D20Crit, where she was also a regular guest at Netfreaks podcast. She was also a contributor for FanSided’s BamSmackPow and 1428 Elm. Adrienne is very into films and she enjoys a bit of everything: from superhero films to heartbreaking dramas, to low-budget horror films. Every time she manages to commit to a TV show without getting bored, an angel gets its wings.

When she’s not writing, you can find her trying to learn a new language, watching hockey (go Avs!), or wondering what life would have been like had Pushing Daisies, Firefly, and Limitless not been cancelled. Breakfast food is life and coffee is what makes the world go round.

Guillermo del Toro said “hi” to her once. It was great.

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