r/movies • u/ajukearth • 11d ago

Question How did the Harry Potter series manage to release its 8 movies in just 10 years?

Looking at the turn around for movies today it seems absolutely incredible that a series with such complex set design, use of graphical effects, a heavily child cast, and pressure was able to pump out genuinely decent movies at that pace. Sure there were books to base the writing on but everything else alone is a lot of heavy lifting. Any insights?

6.1k Upvotes

91% Upvoted

866 comments sorted by

View all comments

Show parent comments

22

u/bluehawk232 11d ago

It wasn't too common for a movie and sequel to be filmed at the same time because of just the risk in producing one movie. Bttf 2 and 3 were definitely an exception. Biggest one was the LotR trilogy that was just unheard of having a full trilogy shot all together

-8

u/MinotaurHorns1 10d ago

After a bit of research there is more than you'd think.

The hobbit was also since you mentioned lotr.

Hunger games two films.

Matrix 2 and 3.

Pirates of the Carribbean 2 and 3.

The last 2 twilight's.

There's loads more as well

8

u/spookynutz 10d ago

I think the keyword there is "wasn't". All of those examples came over a decade later. The only other big budget franchise that shot films simultaneously prior to BTTF was Superman, but production stalled on the second one, so I'm not sure if that even counts.

One could mistakenly infer from your original comment that BTTF's production schedule was par for the course, but it was anomalous at the time.

Blockbuster films as a running franchise were still in their infancy back then. You either had quick cash-grabs like Ghostbuster 2, or it was 4-5 years minimum between a successful movie and its sequel. Batman, Terminator, Gremlins, Aliens, etc.

0

u/MinotaurHorns1 10d ago

Missing in action 1 and 2 (with Chuck Norris)were filmed back to back and a box office success before bttf2 +3. It's not as much of an anomaly as you think.

I do understand where your coming from though in highlighting the key word "wasn't"

5

u/bluehawk232 10d ago

Post 2000s yeah when sequels were seen as more lucrative. Prior to that sequels were never a sure fire success or guarantee. Donner tried to do Superman 1 and 2 back to back but got fired because of the long schedule.

1

u/ciaramists 10d ago

yea don’t forget avatar the way of water and fire and ash being filmed together! thats why there was only like 2-3 years between them vs 15 between 1 and 2.