Harry Styles is known around the world not just as a singer or former member of One Direction, but as a cultural icon who has inspired music, fashion, and even film. What began as fandom admiration turned into a wave of creativity that ultimately gave rise to a collection of films rooted—either loosely or directly—in his image and persona. Remarkably, six films have now been released that trace their origin to stories inspired by Styles, highlighting the impact one celebrity can have on modern storytelling. These movies include After (2019), After We Collided (2020), After We Fell (2021), After Ever Happy (2022), After Everything (2023), and most recently, The Idea of You (2024).
The story begins with Anna Todd, a devoted fan who penned After as a work of Harry Styles fanfiction on the self-publishing platform Wattpad. The central character was originally named Harry, modeled closely on the singer’s public persona—brooding, rebellious, and emotionally complex. As the story gained massive popularity, it was picked up by a publisher and ultimately adapted into a major film, with the lead character’s name changed to Hardin Scott. Played by Hero Fiennes Tiffin, Hardin embodies many of the same traits that fans imagined in Styles: a charming but tormented young man, unpredictable in love, yet deeply magnetic.
After (2019) sets the stage for the entire franchise, telling the story of Tessa Young, an innocent college freshman, and her explosive romance with the enigmatic Hardin. Their relationship is tumultuous from the start, and the film explores the clash between Tessa’s stability and Hardin’s emotional volatility. Though Harry Styles’ name is never mentioned in the film, the roots of the character are unmistakable to anyone familiar with the story’s origin. The dark clothing, intense stare, and poetic vulnerability all evoke the same charisma that Styles is known for in real life.
Following the success of the first film, After We Collided (2020) continued Tessa and Hardin’s journey, diving even deeper into their passionate and often painful connection. This installment amplifies the drama, highlighting the emotional baggage each character carries and how it shapes their dynamic. The sequel explores themes of forgiveness, jealousy, and redemption—common elements in the fantasy of dating a flawed yet irresistible celebrity figure. The connection to Styles remains strong, not just in character design but in the very idea that love can be chaotic, intense, and transformative when the person involved seems larger than life.
By the time After We Fell (2021) arrived, the characters of Tessa and Hardin had grown beyond their fanfiction roots. The third film challenges their relationship with career decisions, family revelations, and personal insecurities. Hardin’s struggle with identity, abandonment, and anger mirrors the emotional depth often assigned to Styles in fictional portrayals. While the film stands on its own narratively, the lingering influence of Styles’ early fan image—romantic yet damaged, guarded but poetic—continues to shape Hardin’s presence on screen.
After Ever Happy (2022) provides the emotional climax of the series. The couple must finally confront the idea of whether love alone is enough to survive life’s growing pressures. The story becomes more reflective and serious, signaling a maturation not only in the characters but in the narrative itself. Here, Hardin’s transformation is crucial. He moves away from being merely a fantasy heartthrob and becomes a man shaped by trauma, self-awareness, and a desire to break the cycle of pain. This echoes Harry Styles’ own real-life evolution—from teenage sensation to thoughtful solo artist who embraces growth and emotional openness.
Many fans assumed that After Ever Happy would be the final chapter in the saga, but After Everything (2023) surprised audiences by offering a contemplative continuation. This time, the story focuses almost entirely on Hardin’s journey of healing and redemption, set against the backdrop of a solo trip to Lisbon. Free from Tessa’s immediate influence, Hardin must face himself, his regrets, and the ghosts of his past. While this film further distances itself from Harry Styles in name, it reflects the deeper fan fantasy of seeing someone flawed find wholeness—an echo of how Styles himself has evolved into a more grounded and introspective figure over the years.
