The success of Joanne K. Rowling's Harry Potter heptalogy is based on various factors, not least the commercial success of the eight film adaptations and a loyal fanbase that turned the adventures of the wizard Harry Potter into a cultural phenomenon. Authors such as Heidi Lexe, Iris Mende, and Michael Wedel examine in the contributions of this anthology how the films adapt Rowling's novels: they discuss the cinematic realization of central themes of racism and fascism, as well as the magical connection between the antagonists Harry Potter and Lord Voldemort as a fundamental motif of the Harry Potter series. Other contributions analyze the cinematic portrayal of motifs such as father figures, the dance of death, and time travel, as well as the filmic aesthetic utilization of nature and landscape shots. A focus is placed on the special role of music.