Harry Potter’s new full-cast audiobooks are better than any TV reboot could be

I have a confession—I am a Potterhead.

Yes, I know, I must admit, but hey, were you expecting the girl who sings the praises of Kindle Unlimited to not be someone who loves Harry Potter? I have been a part of this fandom since I was in fifth grade nearly twenty years ago (yikes, just aged myself) and probably will be until the day I die. Which is why you’d think I’d be more excited about the upcoming HBO reboot of the series.

Wrong.

I’m actually more excited about all seven of the new Harry Potter audiobooks on Audible. And I’m going to tell you why, because I think it’s time you got more excited, too.

A full-cast edition can’t go wrong

The stars are endless

I’ve said this before, but I am an audiobook girl. I have the Audible Plus subscription; I listen to them on my Kindle Unlimited subscription, and occasionally I’ll even buy them just for fun. Heck, Libby hates to see me coming with all the requests I put in.

But there is just something about a full cast for an audiobook that knocks me out in the best way.

I’ve listened to plenty of dramatized versions of novels over the last few years as I’ve gotten more into audiobooks, one of my favorites being from the Fourth Wing franchise by Rebecca Yarros. Listening to these types of audiobooks is more than just a casual voice in your ear. It’s a whole experience. You feel like you are actively in the novel.

Imagine how that feels for Harry Potter.

Throughout the first five books (and the sixth, which was just released on April 14), you are taken into a world of sounds, sights, and more, and with an all-star voice cast that pulls this off in the best way.

We’re talking about names like Hugh Laurie, Riz Ahmed, and James McAvoy—big-name actors who also do a lot of voice acting and who pull off every single character so exceptionally well. It’s sometimes almost hard for me to imagine the actors who have taken on the roles in a TV show performing just as well.

Then there’s the fact that Frankie Treadaway, Max Lester, and Arabella Stanton, the new faces of the Harry Potter TV series, voice the trio in the first three books, which just makes them all the better. This is a top-tier celebrity-narrated audiobook.

The orchestra music is killer

I’m floating on a cloud listening to it

Harry Potter in Qudditich robe in Harry Potter.

I’m going out on a limb here and saying that if you’re reading this, you grew up watching the Harry Potter movies, and you love John Williams’ classic score. Good, you should, because it’s awesome. But imagine hearing that score in your ears, mixed in the most beautiful way—that makes the audiobook that much better?

Listening to the full orchestra in this several-part audiobook series has made me wonder how much time and effort they poured into it. It’s done so well that it sounds like you are actually in a theater, listening to them.

And it’s never too loud or overbearing. It’s just right, and that’s exceptionally hard to do with any kind of music in an audiobook, where it molds well with the words the person is saying.

Did You Know You Can Return Audible Books?

Because I sure didn’t until last week.

The audiobook will get every detail

Every detail is perfectly done

I know this has probably been said before, but the Harry Potter movies were great adaptations—but not perfect. They missed many key details in the books and sort of butchered other characters in certain ways (like Ginny), instead favoring several others that fans tended to lean more towards.

The HBO remake has promised to be a much more faithful adaptation, and honestly, it should be, as long as each episode is an hour long. We’ll get way more detail in that series than we would in new films. And honestly, that means that a lot of the characters that didn’t have the chance to shine in the movies will have their moments in this series. Maybe we’ll end up loving Draco even more than we already do online.

You want to know what doesn’t miss any details? Audiobooks. Sorry, not sorry.

If you listen to the audiobooks, you’ll not only be entertained by the full cast, but you’ll also get every missed detail from the movies—or you’ll just get a refresher from the books if you’ve read them already. Either way, you’ll be winning the lottery and learning more.

I’m still excited for the HBO show, but it’ll have to prove itself

It’ll be a fun time, for sure

I’m not saying I won’t watch the Harry Potter series on HBO because trust me, I will. I’m a huge HBO fan and have become a fan of so many of their shows. Heck, I’m the person who wrote the article on The Pitt Season 3 because I love that series so much.

I have faith HBO will make a great show. But with the production, time, and detail that went into these audiobooks, I don’t know if it’ll ever surpass it for me. I don’t think the show will include the nitty-gritty details that will be included in the audiobooks.

Another Harry Potter audiobook arrives soon

HBO has its next dynasty: the Wizarding World. If you have an Audible subscription and credits to use, this might be a great option. The last part, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, releases on May 12, 2026, so you have just enough time to listen to the first six.

Compatibility: Android, iOS, Sonos, Fire TV, Alexa, Kindle
Free Trial Period: 30 days

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Stephan Dorsey

Stephan is the sports journalist for the Maple Grove Report.

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Recent Reviews

5 highly-rated Netflix Original movies to watch this month

Netflix is home to a large library of exclusive content: from Netflix Original shows and movies to documentaries, this catalog is available to stream only on this platform. You can find many genres, tropes, and styles within this exclusive library, but how good are the titles?

Platforms like IMDb and Rotten Tomatoes allow you to find the most highly-rated and/or popular shows and movies, and these reviews can also help you shape your watch list. Here are five highly-rated Netflix Original films to watch in April.

The films on this list have been picked based on their IMDb rating, with all films having a rating higher than 7.5 out of 10. All of them are also Netflix Original films.

The Mitchells vs. the Machines

A roadtrip, an apocalypse, and a family with a mission

If you’re an animation fan, you might have come across works by Sony Pictures Animation, which is the studio behind Netflix’s Oscar-winning film KPop Demon Hunters. One of its best films that you don’t want to miss is The Mitchells vs. The Machines, a sci-fi family comedy following the dysfunctional Mitchells. As an impending robot apocalypse builds, the Mitchell parents, Rick and Linda, set out to drop their daughter Katie at her film school after Katie and Rick fight.

Their family road trip turns into a nightmare when the world’s electronics gain consciousness and rise to rebel against humans, setting off a chain of events that could end the age of humans. The Mitchells vs. The Machines is one of Netflix’s most-viewed animated works to date, being watched by over 53 million households within 28 days of its release. The movie is emotional yet humorous, with a quirky and fun animation style that keeps you glued to the screen.

The Trial of the Chicago 7

A courtroom drama based on real events

The Trial of the Chicago 7 is a perfect combination of courtroom drama meets political thriller. Based on real events, it follows the infamous 1969 trial of seven defendants charged by the federal government with conspiracy and crossing state lines with the intention of inciting riots during the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. As they are set up against a biased legal system and a judge that can make or break their cases, the defendants face an unfamiliar battleground.

The film features performances from a star-studded ensemble cast, including actors like Eddie Redmayne, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Sacha Baron Cohen, Daniel Flaherty, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Michael Keaton, Frank Langella, and John Carroll Lynch.

Beasts of No Nation

A brutal film that holds the mirror to the reality of war

If you like to stream war movies, Beasts of No Nation is a critically acclaimed film you should add to your watch list. This is one of those films that fall under the category of “films you should watch once and never again” for many viewers. Set in a small, war-torn West African village, the tragic and brutal war drama explores the journey of Agu, a young boy who escapes a village-wide execution in a civil war.

Taken under the wing of a ruthless Commandment (Idris Elba), Agu is quickly exposed to his new reality, transforming from an innocent boy to a war-hardened soldier and killer on the run. As the war worsens, Agu and his army’s lives hang in the balance, with Agu’s state of mind declining due to the brutality of his actions.

Elba’s strong performance in the film earned him several accolades, including a SAG Award.

The Irishman

Don’t skip this if you’re a fan of gangster films

When it comes to epic gangster films, you can’t go wrong with a quintessential one like Martin Scorsese’s The Irishman. This slow-burning crime drama, which is set across multiple decades, from the 1950s onwards, tells the real story of Frank Sheeran, a World War II veteran turned hitman who becomes deeply involved with the Bufalino crime family. As he rises up the ranks, Sheeran forms a close bond with powerful Teamster Jimmy Hoffa. As the story unfolds, Sheeran’s choices and the complex web of organized crime are explored.

The Irishman features an all-star cast, including Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, Joe Pesci, Harvey Keitel, and more. It marks the ninth collaboration between De Niro and Scorsese.

Klaus

May the spirit of Christmas be with you

Even if winter has melted away, a must-watch Christmas film is the animated movie Klaus. This highly rated Netflix film is an alternative origin story of Santa Claus. The animation in this film is incredible, adding to a story that is a perfect holiday-time family watch.

The movie focuses on Jesper, a lazy and privileged postman who is sent by his Royal Postmaster General father to the remote island town of Smeerensburg. Here, he must establish a post office and post 6,000 letters within a year. Desperate to meet this quota and avoid being cut from the family fortune, Jesper teams up with a reclusive toy maker named Klaus. As their unlikely partnership grows, the town is transformed, with children getting delightful toys in exchange for letters. Christmas brings about a demand for more toys, while the town throws obstacles in the way.

The film was nominated for the 92nd Academy Awards in the Best Animated Feature category, making it the first animated film from Netflix to be nominated for an Academy Award.

You can find more Netflix Original content by going through the exclusive library or searching for Only on Netflix or Netflix Original. To filter your titles by genres and tropes, make use of Netflix’s secret codes for easy browsing.