The film's released later this week worldwide, is widely expected to be among the most successful ever made.
JK Rowling, the author of the Potter books, said she was "happy and relieved" by how faithful the film is to her creation.
Have you seen the film or read the books - what do you think? Will children be reading them in years to come? Is Harry Potter the latest craze or major classic?
This debate is now closed. Read a selection of your emails below.
Craze or classic - who cares? Harry's adventures has kept me amused on many a boring train journey to work. Can't wait for the next one to come out!
Heather,
UK
Why all the comparisons with Lord of the Rings? It wasn't written for children, was it? It's too long, pretentious and tedious for an adult to appreciate, let alone a child!
Tony Cairns,
UK
I'm interested to see how the Lord of the Rings film does alongside HP. My only concern is that after HP, LOTR will be judged by the same yardstick. In my mind they are both classics in their own right. There is nothing subversive about either of them.
Edward Buckingham,
France
JK Rowling does not even come close to the writings of such as Tolkein and Lewis. Obviously those who think that have never read beyond grade-school level!
KC,
USA
I'm worried about all these people who think children are being led down the path to occultism by Harry Potter. The Chronicles of Narnia is a Christian classic and it features loads of blatantly Christian themes wrapped up in magic and the "occult". Then of course, I hesitate to mention the vast number of references to magical events in that great mythological work known as the "Bible". Talk about subversive!
LD,
Cambridge, UK
Harry Potter is just a craze nothing more. Look at Pokeman that was a craze but has more or less gone quiet now.
Daniel,
UK
Classic or Craze, it does not matter to me for my four boys are driving me crazy talking about it the whole time.
Arif Sayed,
Dubai,UAE
Last week people wanted to ban Halloween and now you are saying that Harry Potter will lead kids astray. Are kids not allowed to have fun anymore? I think encouraging children to read is good. The magic in Harry Potter is harmless fun. It is not encouraging kids to turn into witches. In fact the Wicca faith doesn't believe in allowing children to join. You can't join until you are old enough to make an informed decision when you are 18 and are an adult.
Rachel H,
UK
Harry Potter is definitely not a classic & the medias' comparisons of it to The Lord of the Rings are beyond ludicrous. However, at least it maybe inspiring a new generation of kids to read instead of playing console games & sniffing lighter fuel
Martin,
London, UK
Harry Potter is most definitely a classic. JK Rowling is an amazing author - she never fails to deliver excitement, page after page.
William,
Hale, Cheshire
Ask me again in 50 years time.
Andy W,
UK
Characters we can identify with and interesting, sometimes surprising, plots are the basic ingredients of good 'classic' literature the world over. The Wonderful World of Oz or Enid Blyton spring to my mind.
J.K. Rowling's stories being imaginative, novel, well-written and rivetting have those same ingredients. They are already modern classics - and not just for children.
CJ Lehmann,
Germany
It certainly is classic, and that's why it had such a success. I think the Harry Potter series will change the children current obsession with the robots and pokemons and draw them into a whole new world of litriture.
Yahya,
Christchurch, New Zealand
I find it absolutely terrifying that this type of occultism is being encouraged. Our children's minds should be protected from this tripe.
Rev Paul Mason,
UK
If the Rev Paul Mason is so horrified by supernatural issues, then why is he a Man of The Cloth? It seems to me that Harry Potter is far less likely to cause havoc than religion does, and both have been founded on the concept and basis of paranormal events. The fact that Harry Potter is possibly doing better trade than the Rev Mason couldn't be an issue here, could it?
Chris B.,
England
It certainly is classic, and that's why it had such a success. I think the Harry Potter series will change the children current obsession with the robots and pokemons and draw them into a whole new world of litriture.
Yahya,
Christchurch, New Zealand
It is a classic. No doubt about it. JK Rowling's writing is so thoughtful and imaginative. It appeals to adults as well as children and no one can doubt that the magic of JK Rowling's writing is capturing the hearts of millions.
Jennifer,
Northern Ireland
Classic or no classic, I kind of want to read it now.... I feel I'm missing out on something here!
James Blair,
UK
As an aspiring writer myself I have untold admiration for JK Rowling. She is not only a super writer but she has an edge and I like her style, I can only wish that I could see the faces of the literary agents that turned her down as they do most of us without any meaningful comments. Eat your hearts out chums. Craze or classic Harry Potter should be around for many years to come. I only wish that dear old Tom Sharpe was still at it!
Alan,
Poland
Neither. Just plain stupid! Cannot believe why there is so much fuss about this film. It looks like yet another result of the massive hyping process.
Shankar Krishnamoorthy,
USA
It's too early to rate them as classics, yet. Only time will show. I do think that they are over-hyped, but if people like them, why not.
Peter,
Finland
Harry Potter is far from a classic. It is probably a classic case of leading children to be obsessed with the spectacular and paranormal. Be warned that dabbling with things magical on this scale could bring a great judgement to the peoples of the world.
RJ Brown,
UK
James Ike and RJ Brown take note: The Hogwarts students are banned from using their powers outside of school till they reach adulthood and understand what their power means. Far from encouraging occultism, it emphasises the ramifications of using any such powers.
Tim Staddon,
UK
RJ Brown - riddikulus!
Anne,
UK
RJ Brown is obviously one of the Dursley's
M Maclean,
USA
To see a real, bona-fide classic, wait until December for the first instalment of "The Lord Of The Rings" - perhaps the Potter-mania will be set into sharp relief when compared to something of undoubted substance and quality.
Tim McNulty,
Isle Of Man
November 5th. 2015.
Harry who...?
Chris B,
England
I am not sure whether Harry Potter is a classic. As others have said only time will tell. However, it does seem that the whole Harry Potter phenomena has benefited from enormous media hype aimed at generating massive amounts of revenue from children. It will be interesting to see how Harry Potter stands up at the box office next month against Lord of the Rings, which is widely regarded as a timeless classic of appeal to all age groups.
R Watson,
Manchester, UK
It's either a classic craze or a crazy classic.
TJ Cassidy,
USA
I'm not pedantically qualified to give an
expert critique. But, I do know it's made a lot of people happy, and it's been a marketing success.
What more of a yardstick is needed?
Tom,
Australia
"Classic" is a term that usually means something has held or increased its worth over a period of time. 100 years from now the answer will be self-evident.
Jane,
USA
I don't think HP's got the makings of a classic, but at least the stories are infinitely more enjoyable than the hugely over-rated Lord of the Rings and Narnia Chronicles. HP's also far preferable to much of the contemporary teen junk my 14 year old daughter and her friends read.
Alex Cutelli,
UK
JK Rowling will be remembered alongside JRR Tolkien and CS Lewis as one of the great children's authors of all time.
Guy Hammond,
England
In 20 odd years time, sad 30-somethings will be sitting around at parties going "hey, do you remember Harry Potter?" in the same way sad 30-somethings now go on about The Clangers or Bagpuss.
Antony,
UK
Harry Potter is something different, a fantasy land for children and adults. Good clean entertainment with nice humour. I think that it will have enduring appeal for many years to come.
Owen Jones,
UK
R.J. Brown should remember that Harry Potter is a fictional character intended for children (though also enjoyed by adults!) and along with his adventures should be accepted as such. If you are worried about the supernatural, there are worse things in this world to be worried about and misinformed judgement is one of them!
Jim,
UK
Harry Potter is the same old kids nonsense dressed up in new clothes - absence of parents, boarding school, fatness as the sin above all other - all of these can be found in Enid Blyton. Kids will be reading Harry Potter for years, just as they read Blyton, but that doesn't make it a classic. It's just good fun and escapism - which RJ Brown would realise if he were living in the same universe as most other people.
Karen Dixon,
UK
Harry Potter is a fantastic piece of literature and will thrill both children and grown-ups for many years to come. RJ Brown, one of my favourite sayings is "paralysis by over-analysis". Just enjoy!
Charlotte Ives,
UK