The magical world of wizardry has captivated audiences worldwide, thanks in large part to J.K. Rowling's enchanting series of novels and subsequent film adaptations - Harry Potter. The franchise follows young Harry as he navigates his journey at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardology alongside best friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger.

Since its initial release in 2001 with 'Harry Potter and the Philosopher Stone' (later rechristened 'Philosophers' Stone' for international audiences), the series has grown to include eight main installable films, culminating in 2012's heart-wrenching conclusion - 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II'. In this article, we'll delve into some fascinating facts about these movies that might have flown under your radar.

1. Extended Running Times

While many fans were aware of slight variations between theatrical releases and home video versions due to differing rating requirements across different regions (for example: 'Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix' clocking in at 138 minutes versus its unrated counterpart running a whopping 161), few knew just how extensive these differences actually were.

For instance, 'Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets' saw an astonishing five whole scenes cut from its US release alone! These excised sequences included crucial dialogue between Professor Moody (played by Alan Rickman) and Severus Snape that shed light upon Lord Voldemort's past actions - material deemed too graphic for younger viewers back then.

2. Casting Controversies

Behind-the-scenes drama also marred the casting process, particularly when it came to finding suitable actors to play certain pivotal roles within the cast list. For instance, popular opinion suggests that Daniel Radcliffe was not initially director Chris Columbus' first choice to take on the title role; instead, fellow British rising star (at least at the time) Harry Potter himself - Rupert Grint's real-life cousin no less!

However, after a grueling auditioning process involving numerous other talented young actors vying for the plum part (including future 'Harry Potter' franchise regulars such as Freddie 'now simply' Jones), Columbus ultimately settled upon Radcliffe due in large part to his uncanny physical resemblance to author J.K. Rowling's descriptions of her iconic hero.

3. On-Set Antics

As with any major motion picture production, the cast and crew behind 'Harry Potter' were not immune from their fair share of pranks and shenanigans during filming. In fact, many former cast members have since spoken candidly about some particularly memorable (if somewhat NSFW) incidents that took place on set.

For example, did you know that Daniel Radcliffe was notorious for playing practical jokes on his co-stars whenever possible? One infamous anecdote details how he convinced Rupert Grint to believe that their trailer had been infested with actual giant spiders - leading poor Ron Weasley lookalike actor himself into quite the panic-stricken state until someone finally burst in to reveal it all as a massive ruse!

4. Cultural Impact

The Harry Potter franchise's enduring popularity can be attributed, in large part, to its ability to tap directly into something fundamental within us all - our deep-seated desire for magic and wonder. Whether we're young at heart or simply nostalgic adults reminiscing about childhood memories of reading Rowling's books under the covers with a flashlight pressed tightly against our faces.

Whatever reason may be behind it (and let's face facts folks; there are plenty), one thing is certain - J.K. Rowling has single-handedly redefined what we mean by 'blockbuster success' through her creation alone!

All harry potter movies run time