How a college parody became a viral sensation with 100 million views

Cultures · Published 11 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: In 2009, a group of University of Michigan students turned a beloved wizarding saga into a comedic musical. What began as a campus performance evolved into a global phenomenon, proving that internet fame can be built on clever satire and unexpected musical talent.

The origins of A Very Potter Musical (AVPM) lie in a casual discussion between creators Nick Lang and others. While reading 'Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire', they theorized that Draco Malfoy’s bullying of Hermione Granger might actually mask a hidden crush. This spark led to the creation of the song 'Granger Danger' and eventually the entire musical concept.

Performed from April 9–11, 2009, at the University of Michigan, the production featured many future stars, including Darren Criss as Harry Potter. The show, produced by StarKid Productions, parodies the adventures of the Golden Trio, including the return of Lord Voldemort and the hunt for Horcruxes. It even features absurd elements, such as a prestigious wizarding academy on Mars called Pigfarts and a Horcrux in the form of a Zac Efron poster.

The musical's journey to stardom was fueled by YouTube. After its initial release, the group re-uploaded a slightly edited version in late June 2009 under the title AVPM. The video went viral, earning millions of views and eventually reaching approximately 100 million views as of March 2018. Its impact was so significant that Entertainment Weekly recognized it as one of the 10 Best Viral Videos of 2009.

Despite its massive success, the production exists in a unique legal space. While Warner Bros. allows Team StarKid to host the musical on their channel and the group owns the rights to the script and music, they do not own the Harry Potter characters. Consequently, they cannot profit from the production, though unauthorized non-profit performances do occur.

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