Why was Harry Potter so successful?

It's a simple question,
Why was the Harry Potter series so successful?

I mean, it didn't add anything new to the genre, and there are a lot of other better series, with better character development and what-not.

I'm not saying its bad, but what makes an almost average book so popular?

>>18
If you really get into it, the Harry Potter series is heavily influenced by Christianity as well.

Harry Potter is the saviour son, he's performed many 'miracles' - feats that he should not be able to accomplish, even with wizardry. He is the child of one magical being, and one mortal, etc...

Lord Voldemort is a brilliant wizard himself who fell from grace and became the evil being that he is.

The golden son and the dark prince have to meet in a final battle that will determine the fate of all other beings. The all enduring fight of good against evil.

I'm sure you'd find a lot more underlying themes if you really sat down and thought about it.