Perhaps no other film franchise in recorded history is so loved and has a legendary cultural impact as Harry Potter. A magical saga that for twenty years captivated the global audience now leaves Netflix.

For a lot of the audience, seeing the Boy Who Lived and his companions fighting against evil had turned into a kind of ritual. And the streaming wizard was one of the main players who helped this practice to continue in different parts of the world. 

However, the streaming platform has already begun its end-of-the-year cleanse, shutting its door to Hogwarts.

Netflix once made magic easy and always available by streaming the entire Harry Potter franchise, which floated across streamers like HBO Max and Peacock in the US for decades. But come next year, the cult-classic movies will no longer be available on Netflix. 

Notwithstanding its effort to take over Warner Bros. and the related assets valued at around $82.7 billion, including HBO Max and HBO, the whole Harry Potter movie series will be removed from its service on New Year's Day, Thursday, January 1, 2026. But why would the streaming titan cancel a cornerstone series while almost nearing a major deal with its parent studio?

According to industry reports, this decision is based on a long-standing licensing arrangement between Warner Bros. and the use of the famous IPs. It is standard practice for non-original titles on Netflix meant to ensure fair distribution of classics. Therefore, Netflix's right to stream the $7.7 billion franchise was a non-exclusive, regional license and not a permanent one. 

This removal is happening at the same time as several other big titles leaving Netflix in early 2026, including 150-plus blockbuster TV series and movies, as part of a broad content reshuffle. But what happens to the wizards, spells, and the eternal battle between light and dark after December 31, 2025? 

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Hogwarts will find a new home after it bids farewell to Netflix.

As soon as the series is gone from Netflix, Harry Potter should be available on HBO Max. The platform has been switching the films on and off and is likely to reintroduce them as it grows in influence around the world.

The original eight films can easily be rented or purchased on numerous platforms in the US, such as on Plex, Amazon Video, USA Network, and Apple TV. This means that the fans are able to follow the entire saga still, regardless of Netflix's removal.

Meanwhile, HBO’s upcoming Harry Potter television series is also set to arrive in late 2026 or early 2027. Dominic McLaughlin is cast as Harry Potter himself, with Alastair Stout as Ronald Weasley, and Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger. The show will likely stream on Max.

"Both sides are excited to be reviving this franchise. We can't wait to give a decade of fresh stories to fans everywhere on Max," Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav expressed great enthusiasm to Wall Street analysts at the company's Q4 earnings call on February 23, 2024, per Deadline.

As Hollywood’s biggest chess game continues with Netflix nearing its negotiations to acquire Warner Bros. the studio's crown jewel spends its last week on Netflix. Catch the train to Hogwarts before Platform Nine and Three-Quarters closes.

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Will you watch Harry Potter on Netflix before it leaves? Comment your thoughts below.