As it would have it, theHarry Potterfilms have dozens, perhaps even hundreds, of tiny little details and Easter eggs thrown about throughout the franchise’s eight-movie run. A lot of these hidden references are nods to content from the books that didn’t make it to the screen, things going on behind the scenes, or even the odd joke here and there, just to liven things up a bit.
But, of course, not all details hold the same weight and value. They’re all really good, sure, but some of them are just a little more special than others, whether because of their importance or how funny they are.These are the best Easter eggs in theHarry Potterfilms, though with the amount of them out there, it’s hard to pick just a handful tobe the best. They will be ranked according to how noticeable they are and how much they can enrich the experience for all those fans clever enough to spot them.
10’Equus' (1973)
‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 1’ (2010)
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 1
9Newt Scamander
‘Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban’ (2004)
One of the most memorable items introduced inHarry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkabanisthe Marauders' Map, an ever-changing map of Hogwarts that shows the positions of each and every person in the castle, as well as secret passages and hidden rooms. These people are represented by name tags, with are constantly moving to reflect their movement throughout the castle.
In one scene, as Harry examines the map, one of the names is none other than Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne), the main protagonist of theFantastic Beasts and Where to Find Themtrilogy. It would appear that Scamander, no doubt an old man by now, is paying a visit to Hogwarts on this specific day. It’s nothing groundbreaking or important, but it isa subtle nod to one of the most beloved background characters in the franchise, who, unbeknownst to anyone at the time, would eventually earn a movie franchise of his own.
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
8Sherbet Lemon
‘Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince’ (2009)
Way back inHarry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, Harry is escorted by Professor McGonagall (Dame Maggie Smith) to Professor Dumbledore’s (Richard Harris) office. The door is locked via a password, “sherbet lemon.” In the books, Dumbledore states this to be a candy that he is particularly fond of, though this isn’t quite alluded to in the movies, or at least not at first.
Much later in the franchise, inHarry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Harry spends quite a bit of time in Dumbledore’s office, so it allows viewers to examine the place a little better and really take it in. If one were to look closely, one would find that on Dumbledore’s desk is a small bowl filled with little yellow candies. These are — you guessed it — sherbet lemons.It’s a wonderfully nostalgic reference to the very first filmthat showcases just how far the franchise had come.
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
7Cheeri-Owls
‘Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix’ (2007)
Wizards need to eat, too, and breakfast is the most important meal of the day. ByHarry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, fans have likely become accustomed to the delicious spreads put out by the unseen chefs at Hogwarts during mealtimes. For breakfast, lunch, and dinner, these spreads are adorned with sumptuous feasts of hearty meals and sweet desserts.
But the viewer probably wouldn’t expect to find a box of cereal amongst these spreads for breakfast and would more than likely expect eggs benedict or waffles or other hearty breakfast meals. Yet, sitting in the background, there is a box of cereal with the fake brand name"Cheeri-Owls," an obvious nod to Cheerios, only it’s a wizard form. This Easter egg is kind of neat and adds to the expansive depth of the Wizarding World, though in an admittedly strange way.
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
6Chocolate Frogs
‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2’ (2011)
The introduction of the magical treat known as Chocolate Frogs came way back in the first film. Chocolate Frogs are exactly what they sound like: frogs made of chocolate. The catch is that they each come with a collector’s card of a historical wizard and that the frogs are actually animate and can hop around at will. When Harry first gets one, it hops out the window of the Hogwarts Express.
The final scene ofHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2depicts the events unfolding 19 years later, with the Golden Trio sending their now pre-pubescent children off to school for the first time. As their kids get into their train cabin, a Chocolate Frog hops in the window, coming as an omen of the end of Harry’s journey and the beginning of a new one.This Easter egg isstrangely touching yet perfect for wrapping up the franchise.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2
5Dobby and Winky
‘Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire’ (2005)
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Firehas some real blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moments, but viewers are likely to miss this one even if they don’t blink. One of the major complaints book readers have with the movies is that the character ofWinky the House Elf wasn’t included in the films. Well, the truth is, she was, just not to the extent of the books.
Harry first meets Winky during the Quidditch World Cup, and during this scene in the movie, there are lots of witches and wizards going this way as they peruse the festivities. If one were to slow the film down by quite a lot, they would be able to see two House Elves: one of whom is Dobby (Toby Jones), and the other of whom is presumed to be Winky. Both ride llamas past the camera and are hard to make out due to the motion blur, but it’s stillnice to see this beloved book character at least appear in some form,even if it’s just for a… well, wink.
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
4Raunchy Details
‘Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban’
Newt Scamander isn’t the only Marauders' Map Easter egg found inHarry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. A second Easter egg appears in the end credits, only this one is way funnier. Not only does the Marauders' Map show the names of the people in Hogwarts, but also little footprints to represent where they are or where they are going. These footprints are usually in motion, of course, with all the hustle and bustle that goes on insidethe iconic Hogwarts castle.
Eagle-eyed viewers will notice the cluster of footprints that appears in a broom closet in the lower-left corner. Though there are no names visible, it would appear that two individuals have stopped for some timely hanky-panky in this broom closet, as a closer examination of their footprints reveals that there are two people pressed right up against each other.As far as Easter eggs go, this is actually kind of funnyand one that is easily missed because, come on, who actually sits and watches the credits?
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
3Queen Anne Boleyn
‘Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone’ (2001)
This Easter egg is one that most will miss unless they’re particularly versed in English history. InHarry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, Harry, Ron (Rupert Grint), and Hermione (Emma Watson) are heading up the Grand Staircase of Hogwarts, which, as viewers will come to be familiar with, is littered with paintings and portraits of various witches and wizards throughoutHarry Potterlore. Except for one, that is.
One of these portraits that hangs next to the door through which Harry and his friends enter is of none other thanQueen Anne Boleynof England, who was the second wife ofKing Henry VIII. In 1536, Queen Anne Boleyn was executed on suspicion of being a witch. While in reality, these accusations were unfounded, in theHarry Potteruniverse, it would seem her place amongst other famed witches and wizards confirms the suspicions of the Church of England at the time.It’s actually a dark Easter egg, but it’s also cool to see howthe Wizarding World and the Muggle World are more intertwinedthan audiences think.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
2Disclaimer
Here’s another Easter egg that appears in the credits and will only be witnessed if one were to actually watch them. Unlike the previous entry, this one is not hard to find whatsoever. One of the most exciting sequences inHarry Potter and the Goblet of Fireis the First Task of the Triwizard Tournament, which sees Harry face off againsta vicious and badass dragon, the Hungarian Horntail, noted for being extremely dangerous.
At the end of the sequence, the dragon accidentally hits its head on one of Hogwarts' many bridges before plummeting to the chasm below. In case you’re a dragon’s rights activist, the movie was sure to include a disclaimer in the creditsstating that no dragons were harmed in the making of this film. Well, that’s a relief. Of course, this is only a joke, but it actually adds to the movie.
1The Novels
‘Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets’ (2002)
With all the books that popped up in the series, this Easter egg was bound to happen eventually. At the beginning ofHarry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Harry walks down the aisles of Flourish & Blotts, the local bookshop inthe iconic Diagon Alley. Much of the spotlight is given to the books “written” by Harry’s soon-to-be Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Gilderoy Lockhart (Kenneth Branagh).
However, when the viewer turns their attention to the books on the left-hand side, they will notice that these are the actualHarry Potterbooks, or at least the ones that existed at that point. Although it’s small, it is still the best Easter Egg by far becauseit’s a tribute to the novels that started it all, becoming one of the best-selling franchises of all time. It’s also an homage toJ. K. Rowling, who wrote them and got to personally witness her creation come to life.
