“Harry Potter” and “Star Wars” are two titans of their respective fantasy and sci-fi genres. These two franchises have dominated their genres for years and captured the hearts and minds of many fans. In this poll, we discuss why one is superior over the other.
Kahlil Kambui, Opinion Editor:
In pop culture, few franchises rival the popularity of Harry Potter; it’s a franchise that defined a generation of nerds world wide. But when it comes to storytelling, cultural impact and emotional depth the wizarding world of Harry Potter takes the cake.
Originating with the seven books from the mind of J.K. Rowling, with the first book coming out on June 26, 1997, and the movie releasing Nov. 16, 2001. The franchise turned into eight very successful feature length films, and soon-to-be TV show coming out in 2027, a video game and theme park which opened in Orlando, Florida, drawing millions of guests annually. The world of Harry Potter has become more than just some high fantasy piece of media, it’s become a cultural phenomenon.
The story of Harry Potter is incredibly down to earth. It’s a story of good vs evil following Harry Potter, an orphan who soon discovers that he is a wizard on his 11th birthday and that he will be studying at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. During that time, he meets friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, navigating the many secrets in the walls of Hogwarts and about Lord Voldemort, the titular villain of Harry Potter and also the reason Potter is an orphan.
Focusing solely on the movies, all eight films within the Harry Potter franchise are leagues better than what George Lucas has created. From the casting to the way the books were adapted to film, the Harry Potter franchise is incredible.
The movies introduced us to elite Hollywood A-listers such as Emma Watson, Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint. The casting was perfect as the actors fit into their roles perfectly. The chemistry those three had was magical, and the connection they had off-screen really shined through on the big screen.
The progression of the Harry Potter series allowed fans to grow alongside the characters. We saw Harry, Ron and Hermonie turn from children to adults facing unimaginable challenges such as fighting Voldemort and Potter winning the Triwizard Tournament. This facilitated fans to have a deeper rooted connection with the characters as they grew up with them as the movies came along.
The films discussed themes such as friendship, love and sacrifice. The fantasy in Harry Potter is grounded in real human experiences that anyone could relate to with ease, such as family issues, starting a new school and dealing with bad teachers. Star Wars is hard to relate to with its confusing, out of order release order of its movies and the plot being a galactic space conflict from a galaxy that doesn’t even exist it’s hard for audiences to relate to.
The consistency of each Harry Potter film is another reason for its greatness. Each of the eight films are enjoyable and better in their craftsmanship compared to Star Wars. Star Wars showcases mighty lows in its series such as the latter half of the franchise performing significantly worse than its prequels due to George Lucas having less creative control.
Years after the release of the books and movies the magic of Harry Potter is well and alive. Whether it’s people buying the Hogwarts videogame to live out their dream of being a witch or wizard or people finding their Hogwarts house through the sorting hat and with there being over 500 million copies sold of just the Harry Potter books, Harry Potter is not just better than Star Wars, it is the greatest pop cultural phenomenon.
Jonathan Shelby, Assistant Lifestyle Editor:
To many of our readers, the galaxy far, far away may not even need an introduction. It is a tale of the rivalry between hope and fear, the struggle of choosing temptation or tranquility, and, of course, the balance of good and evil.
The Star Wars franchise has gained love and recognition from a multitude of sci-fi fans around the world since its debut on the big screen nearly half a century ago and still continues to dominate the sci-fi genre to this day.
Beginning from a trilogy of very successful films, the franchise further evolved into a plethora of other beloved films, TV shows, video games, toys, music and novels that would further entrance and inspire future fans, young and old.
These media successes would inspire other media franchises and be referenced in their own material. Franchises and films such as “Back to the Future,” “Captain America: Civil War,” “Family Guy,” “The Simpsons” and “Robot Chicken” would feature references and satirical performances to Star Wars.
The love for the franchise even extends to fans being able to recognize certain sound effects without needing to see the reference material. Prime examples are the deep sound of Darth Vader’s breathing, the harsh screech of a Tie fighter, the cheerful chirps of the robot R2-D2 and of course the gentle hum of a lightsaber.
Star Wars in and of itself is so insanely popular and widespread that it even has its own unofficial holiday in May. Celebrated annually around the world, “May the 4th be with you” is based on the infamous line “May the Force be with you.”
Despite its legendary status, Star Wars has admittedly been going through a rough patch over the past few years.
TV releases such as the “Obi-Wan Kenobi” and “Ahsoka” featuring fan favorite characters weren’t received well and the series “The Acolyte” received harsh criticism and blowback for its various plot holes and odd character personalities and writing. However, the franchise has had some smash hits such as both seasons of Andor as well as the Mandalorian series.
With all that said, the question remains as to why our humble reader should care. Rhetorically speaking, what makes Star Wars something that the reader should consider better than Harry Potter?
Star Wars is more than just a popular collection of TV shows and films. It’s a melting pot of life lessons and underlying teachings intertwined with intense adventures that whisk the audience into a universe wildly different from our own.
It serves to entertain an audience of all ages, big and small, and most importantly, it serves to be an escape from reality into a sci-fi lover’s wonderland filled with high-stake adventures and lovable characters in a galaxy far, far away.
