Since its debut in 2001, the Harry Potter film franchise has hooked moviegoers of all ages. It's made US$6.3 billion worldwide and cemented a place in Hollywood history for Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint. Now the highest-grossing movie franchise of all time comes to an end with "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2." To celebrate, CTVNews.ca looks back at 10 key moments that changed the boy wizard's life and took the movies to new heights.

School's in

Game-changing firsts were in plentiful supply in 2001's "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone." Here, the fledgling boy wizard ventured onto Platform 9 ¾ and took his first train ride on the Hogwarts Express. Harry found his first home at Hogwarts and launched his passion for Quidditch. He also took his first school trip to the magical wizard shops in Diagon Alley. Still, nothing compares with that first step into the candlelit great hall of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. With that single step a film franchise was born and Harry Potter's real on-screen magic began.


Magic's dark side

Studying magic seemed mostly seemed like harmless fun in "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone." Even so, moviegoers saw just how dangerous magic could be early on in the series. That revelation first sunk in when Harry and his new friends, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, played a game of life-sized wizard chess. The kids' clash with these menacing figures was impressive. But these chessmen were out to win even at the cost of the youngsters' lives. That harsh lesson tested the children and cemented their friendships. It also set the stage for many more trials to come.


Hermione Granger unleashes her power

Moviegoers always knew that Hermione Granger was brilliant. But no one ever suspected that this bookworm had such a great right hook. That revelation came in 2004's "Harry Potter the Prisoner of Azkaban," and it still brings a smile to fans' faces. Fed up with Draco Malfoy, Hogwarts' No. 1 bully, quiet, reserved Hermione punched his lights out. She also called the boastful villain a "foul, loathsome, evil little cockroach." Draco's minions were stunned. Ron gasped, "Bloody brilliant!" It may have been Hermione's first demonstration of girl power in the Potter movies. It would not be her last.


Harry Potter comes of age

Before 2004's "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban," Hogwarts' No. 1 wizard-in-training was just a boy. When "Azkaban" ended, Harry faced danger like a man. In the film's crucial scene, Harry summoned the powerful charm, "Expecto Patronum!" It's a momentous first, for no wizard of Harry's young age had ever cast this challenging spell. But Hogwarts' Chosen One had no choice. Harry and his godfather, Sirius Black, faced death. The spectral Dementors were closing in on them fast. With no adult rescue in sight, Harry waved his wand, unleashed powers he never knew he had and defeated this horde of ghouls.


Tragedy strikes at Triwizard Tournament

Pivotal firsts were in no short supply in 2005's "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire." The Triwizard Tournament brought two rival schools to Hogwarts, and their flamboyant entrance in a winged carriage and spectacular ship drove Dumbledore's pupils wild. The Yule Ball found Harry and Ron struggling to get their first dates, while Hermione made her first, grown-up entrance to this party alongside tournament star, Viktor Krum. But tragedy was the real game changer in "Goblet of Fire." With the death of Cedric Diggory (Robert Pattinson) in the Triwizard Tournament, the Potter kids saw one of their own killed by Voldemort's forces. Harry and Hogwarts would never be the same again.


Sealed with a kiss

Around the time that Daniel Radcliffe was performing in the nude in his West End debut, his boy wizard alter ego was enjoying his first kiss in 2007's "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix." Just like any teenager, Hogwarts' Chosen One became a nervous, blabbering mess when he fell for the beautiful Cho Chang (Katie Leung). Nevertheless, love-struck Harry still summoned the composure he needed to help Hogwarts' students prepare for the war that was coming in the wizarding world.


Harry and Voldemort meet

The graveyard scene in 2005's "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" marked the first time Lord Voldemort fully materialized to duel with the boy wizard. The thrilling movie moment was worth the wait. The nose-less fiend played by Ralph Fiennes wasted no time trying to kill young Harry. Voldemort hurled his Avada Kedavra curse at the teen. Harry fired back with his Expelliarmus spell. The two powerful incantations lit up the night sky, producing one of the most spectacular scenes in the entire franchise. Harry barely survived But this first harrowing battle merely hinted at what would come between these sworn enemies.


The Death Eaters pay a visit

Lord Voldemort and his Death Eater followers wreaked plenty of havoc before 2009's "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince." But their attack upon the Weasley home changed the game for wizards young and old in J.K. Rowling's saga. Bellatrix (Helena Bonham Carter) and her evil associates descended upon the Weasley's home and lured them out into the open. In a flash this haven for Harry exploded into flames. The good guys were trounced and the bad guys prevailed. For the first time Harry and his friends realized their greatest fear. There was no place left to hide from Voldemort's evil.


Say my name

When Ross spoke Rachel's name as he married another woman on "Friends," it was a Freudian slip heard around the globe. The same was true when Ron mumbled "Hermione" in the hospital scene in 2009's "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince." Bedridden Ron was delirious. He was also dating the clingy Lavender Brown at the time. Even so, Ron's subconscious let it slip that Hermione was the girl for him. That first admission hinted at what might come for these teenagers who secretly longed to be more than friends.


Snape kills Dumbledore

When Professor Dumbledore plunged to his death from the walls of Hogwarts in 2009's "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince," a new reality was spelled out for the young wizard. Harry would have to buck up, grow up and destroy Lord Voldemort on his own. Fans old and new also confronted a terrible reality in "Half-Blood Prince." Difficult though it was to watch, Severus Snape murdered Dumbledore with cool, quiet efficiency. Unable to help, Harry watched on as the greatest wizard of all time was killed and vowed to take his revenge.