wnyc.org / 93.9fm / am 820

Dan Kois, cultural critic who's written about the final Harry Potter movie for the New York Times Magazine and Slate, reviews Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 and discusses the end of the Harry Potter franchise.

“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2” raked in $158.4 million domestically over the weekend, breaking records which "The Dark Knight" had held, according to Warner Bros. The film's world premiere marks the end (for now) to the adventures of Harry Potter. WNYC reached out to book publishers, teen lit reviewers and librarians to find out what new titles have the potential to fill the gap.

From books to the big screen, J.K. Rowling's 'Harry Potter' franchise has permeated popular culture and transcended the boundaries of traditional entertainment. As American audiences prepare for the final Harry Potter film to open, we’ve compiled a short list of events around New York that celebrate the world of Harry Potter.

Today marks the beginning of the end for the world’s favorite boy wizard franchise. Muggles of all ages lined up for midnight screenings of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I" last night.

But Harry’s fans are here to ensure that Potter Mania will never fade. College fans across the country have begun their own Quidditch leagues, competing with rival schools. Last week, 46 college teams from across the country competed in the Quidditch World Cup in New York.

We got to the theater at 11:43 and a large shivering line of Muggles was already waiting for a chance to see the half dozen “midnight” shows of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1." There were Harrys, and Hermiones, and Ron Weasleys in full regalia. Fans fully decked out in Hogwarts uniforms and round rimmed glasses were everywhere.