Fourth of July weekend is the perfect time for a Harry Potter marathon on Max

Friday is the Fourth of July, a celebration of many things for Americans. The holiday represents a commemoration of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, also known as Independence Day. In other words, it is the day we celebrate as the first day of the United States as an independent nation.

Many Americans take the day as a full-blown celebration. Fourth of July cookouts are common, and burgers and hot dogs on the grill, and a day of beers and drinking, have become a symbol of the holiday. Many communities also hold parades or fireworks, or other types of celebratory events, to honor the momentous day. With the long weekend following the holiday this year, though, many people might be sitting around not knowing what to watch.

Never fear! For the wizard and witch fans among us, Max has us covered with a nostalgic marathon that brings a celebration of independence in a whole different way.

Fans may be asking why Harry Potter would be a great binge-watch for your Fourth of July weekend. For one, it is a great franchise, so is there really any other reason needed? Perhaps not, but I am going to throw some your way anyway. It may not appear at first sight to connect, but dig deeper into some of the themes, and perhaps the correlation is more obvious than it seems.

First off, there are several underlying themes of independence throughout the various Harry Potter films. The first is Harry, the title character, earning his independence not only from the Dursley family, but also from the legacy of his past. Second, the entire student body of Hogwarts fought for their independence from the rule of Dolores Umbridge, and later from the Death Eaters. Finally, the Battle at Hogwarts ultimately granted independence from Voldemort's reign over the Harry Potter world.

Second, if it is fireworks that fans are looking for, nothing brings fireworks quite like magic. The films are filled with plenty of intense, sit on the edge of your seat action, with magic duels and usage at the forefront of the battles. Fireworks can also come in the form of fights and drama, and in a school of middle and high school age kids, you can be sure there is plenty of that throughout as well.

Third, the Fourth of July is a celebration, and there is quite a bit to celebrate in the Harry Potter films. Whether the celebrations are smaller, like a game of Quidditch, a special holiday, or winning the House Cup, or much greater, like stopping an evil headmaster, overturning a wrongful suspension, and winning a war against the most evil villain in the universe. Perhaps there is a giant feast, much like on July 4th, or a celebration of cheering and parades and possibly magical versions of fireworks.

More overarching themes, like love, friendship, trust, faith, strength, and determination, can also be used as a representation for both the films and Independence Day. If these are not enough reasons to convince you, perhaps you need a rewatch anyway to remind yourself of these connections. It's a win for everyone! So pop a bowl of popcorn and get your binge-watching on.

The great news is that for fans who have the streaming service Max, all movies are available for free, which makes sense given that this service is also the home of the upcoming Harry Potter television series. Other streaming services host the films as well, though, including Peacock, Hulu, premium Amazon Prime, premium FuboTV, and premium YouTube TV/YouTube. Your cable company may also have options for watching the films. Whichever way you decide to view, enjoy the nostalgic and thrilling eight-film watch!

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