harry potter and the chamber of secrets movie review essay

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The first movie was the setup, and this one is the payoff. "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" leaves all of the explanations of wizardry behind and plunges quickly into an adventure that's darker and scarier than anything in the first Harry Potter movie. It's also richer: The second in a planned series of seven Potter films is brimming with invention and new ideas, and its Hogwarts School seems to expand and deepen before our very eyes into a world large enough to conceal unguessable secrets.

What's developing here, it's clear, is one of the most important franchises in movie history, a series of films that consolidate all of the advances in computer-aided animation, linked to the extraordinary creative work of J.K. Rowling, who has created a mythological world as grand as "Star Wars," but filled with more wit and humanity. Although the young wizard Harry Potter is nominally the hero, the film remembers the golden age of moviemaking, when vivid supporting characters crowded the canvas. The story is about personalities, personal histories and eccentricity, not about a superstar superman crushing the narrative with his egotistical weight.

In the new movie, Harry ( Daniel Radcliffe , a little taller and deeper-voiced) returns with his friends Ron Weasley ( Rupert Grint ) and Hermione Granger ( Emma Watson , in the early stages of babehood). They sometimes seem to stand alone amid the alarming mysteries of Hogwarts, where even the teachers, even the august headmaster Albus Dumbledore ( Richard Harris ), even the learned professors Snape ( Alan Rickman ) and McGonagall ( Maggie Smith ), even the stalwart Hagrid the Giant ( Robbie Coltrane ) seem mystified and a little frightened by the school's dread secrets.

Is there indeed a Chamber of Secrets hidden somewhere in the vast pile of Hogwarts? Can it only be opened by a descendent of Salazar Slytherin, the more sinister of the school's co-founders? Does it contain a monster? Has the monster already escaped, and is it responsible for paralyzing some of the students, whose petrified bodies are found in the corridors, and whose bodies are carried to the infirmary still frozen in a moment of time? Do the answers to these questions originate in events many years ago, when even the ancient Dumbledore was (marginally) younger? And does a diary by a former student named Tom Marvolo Riddle--a book with nothing written in it, but whose pages answer questions in a ghostly handwriting--provide the clues that Harry and his friends need? (Answer to all of the above: Probably.) This puzzle could be solved in a drab and routine movie with characters wandering down old stone corridors, but one of the pleasures of Chris Columbus' direction of "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" is how visually alive it is. This is a movie that answers any objection to computer animation with glorious or creepy sights that blend convincingly with the action. Hogwarts itself seems to have grown since the first movie, from a largish sort of country house into a thing of spires and turrets, vast rooms and endlessly convoluted passageways, lecture halls and science labs, with as much hidden below the ground as visible above it. Even the Quiddich game is held in a larger stadium (maybe rich alumni were generous?). There are times, indeed, when the scope of Hogwarts seems to approach that of Gormenghast, the limitless edifice in the trilogy by Mervyn Peake that was perhaps one of Rowling's inspirations.

The production designer is Stuart Craig, returning from "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone." He has created (there is no other way to put it) a world here, a fully realized world with all the details crowded in, so that even the corners of the screen are intriguing. This is one of the rare recent movies you could happily watch with the sound turned off, just for the joy of his sets, the costumes by Judianna Makovsky and Lindy Hemming, and the visual effects (the Quiddich match seems even more three-dimensional, the characters swooping across the vast field, as Harry finds himself seriously threatened by the odious Malfoy).

There are three new characters this time, one delightful, one conceited, one malevolent. Professor Sprout ( Miriam Margolyes ) is on the biology faculty, and teaches a class on the peculiar properties of the mandrake plant, made all the most amusing by students of John Donne who are familiar with the additional symbolism of the mandrake only hinted at in class. The more you know about mandrakes, the funnier Sprout's class is.

She is the delightful addition. The conceited new faculty member, deliciously cast, is Gilderoy Lockhart ( Kenneth Branagh ), author of the autobiography Magical Me, who thinks of himself as a consummate magician but whose spell to heal Harry's broken arm has unfortunate results. And then there is Lucius Malfoy ( Jason Isaacs ), father of the supercilious Draco, who skulks about as if he should be hated just on general principles.

These characters and plot elements draw together in late action sequences of genuine power, which may be too intense for younger viewers. There is a most alarming confrontation with spiders and a scary late duel with a dragon, and these are handled not as jolly family movie episodes, but with the excitement of a mainstream thriller. While I am usually in despair when a movie abandons its plot for a third act given over entirely to action, I have no problem with the way "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" ends, because it has been pointing toward this ending, hinting about it, preparing us for it, all the way through. What a glorious movie.

Roger Ebert

Roger Ebert was the film critic of the Chicago Sun-Times from 1967 until his death in 2013. In 1975, he won the Pulitzer Prize for distinguished criticism.

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Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002)

Rated PG For Scary Moments Some Creature Violence and Mild Language

161 minutes

Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter

Rupert Grint as Ron Weasley

Emma Watson as Hermione Granger

Jason Isaacs as Lucius Malfoy

Alan Rickman as Prof. Snape

Maggie Smith as Prof. McGonagal

Robbie Coltrane as Hagrid The Giant

Richard Harris as Prof. Albus Dumbledore

Tom Felton as Draco Malfoy

Directed by

• Chris Columbus
• Steve Kloves

Based on the novel by

• J.K. Rowling

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Harry potter and the chamber of secrets, common sense media reviewers.

Action- and creature-packed Potter sequel.

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Friendship, love, bravery, and loyalty are always

Harry and his friends are loyal to each other and

As Harry's booksmart friend, Hermione demonstrates

Kids are in peril often, but at the hand of fantas

Hermione is called a "mudblood" by Draco, an offen

While the candy mentioned wasn't originally real,

Parents need to know that Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets is scarier than the first film in the Harry Potter series (all based on the books by J.K. Rowling), and characters spend lots of time in extreme peril. There are frightening creatures, including hordes of big spiders and an enormous…

Positive Messages

Friendship, love, bravery, and loyalty are always major themes in the series, as is the idea of making good choices.

Positive Role Models

Harry and his friends are loyal to each other and demonstrate perseverance, teamwork, and courage. A charismatically dishonest teacher gets his comeuppance.

Diverse Representations

As Harry's booksmart friend, Hermione demonstrates her cleverness by solving one of the film's key mysteries. Ron's younger sister, Ginny, plays a larger role in this installment, though she requires rescuing. Characters of color, including Harry's fellow Gryffindors Dean Thomas and Lee Jordan (both Black) remain in background. The narrative further explores the issue of class through Lucius Malfoy's mistreatment of his house elf, Dobby. Unfortunately, mirroring its source material, the movie continues to play into fat-phobic stereotypes, depicting villains such as Harry's Uncle Vernon and cousin Dudley as gluttonous and cruel.

Did we miss something on diversity? Suggest an update.

Violence & Scariness

Kids are in peril often, but at the hand of fantasy creatures most of the time: giant spiders attack, and a basilisk (giant serpent) has Medusa-like abilities, nearly killing characters and putting them in a rigid, comatose state -- it chases Harry in a really tense scene. Harry falls from his broom and breaks his arm, and then bones in his arm are magically removed. A house elf punishes himself by hitting his head repeatedly. In a practice wizards' duel, students and teachers are thrown to the ground and a (small) snake threatens a student. A spell backfires and Ron coughs up slugs. Harry almost falls out of a flying car. Two main characters almost die in the film's climax.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

Hermione is called a "mudblood" by Draco, an offensive term in the Potter world meaning "dirty blood."

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.

Products & Purchases

While the candy mentioned wasn't originally real, it is now: Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans, Chocolate Frogs, Jelly Slugs, and more. And then there are the action figures, Lego play sets, wands, Band-Aid bandages ... you name it.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets is scarier than the first film in the Harry Potter series (all based on the books by J.K. Rowling), and characters spend lots of time in extreme peril. There are frightening creatures, including hordes of big spiders and an enormous snake that can kill anyone who looks in its eyes. Though it appears that some characters have been hurt or killed, all the heroes are ultimately fine. But children who aren't already familiar with the story may be upset. There are also some gross-out moments when Ron's spell backfires and he spits up slugs, and when another misapplied spell leaves Harry without any bones in his forearm. Characters demonstrate courage , perseverance , and teamwork . In addition, friendship, love, bravery, and loyalty are always major themes in the series, as is the idea of making good choices. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails .

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Community Reviews

• Parents say (65)
• Kids say (259)

Based on 65 parent reviews

Bloody Boo Hoo

Qwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnm john, what's the story.

HARRY POTTER AND THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS is more pure magic for young Potter fans who like adventure over the darker themes in the series. Flying cars, giant spiders and snakes, and faster and larger-than-life Quidditch matches keep the story moving as Harry ( Daniel Radcliffe ) and friends soar through their second year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. As this installment begins, Harry gets a visit at the Dursleys' from a house elf named Dobby (voiced by Toby Jones ), who warns Harry that someone is trying to harm him. After a hair-raising trip with Ron ( Rupert Grint ), Harry arrives at Hogwarts, where there are new classes, new challenges, and a somewhat suspicious, extremely narcissistic new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher named Gilderoy Lockhart ( Kenneth Branagh ). Harry is the only one who can hear a strange voice echoing through the halls, and he's in the wrong place at the wrong time when some very bad and scary things happen. It seems that Hogwarts has a Chamber of Secrets that hasn't been opened for 50 years. Somewhere in that chamber is a dangerous creature just waiting for the right person to let it out. Many people suspect that Harry is that person, and he wonders whether they're right. The two adults Harry trusts most, Hagrid ( Robbie Coltrane ) and Dumbledore ( Richard Harris ), are removed from the school, and if someone doesn't stop the creature, Hogwarts may be closed for good. As always, it will take Hermione ( Emma Watson )'s research skills, Ron's courage, and Harry's heart to save the day.

Is It Any Good?

Kids will find this chapter a thrilling and utterly satisfying experience. That applies both to those looking for a meticulous realization of the beloved book Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets and those who watch the film knowing only the first movie -- or even those with no knowledge of Harry Potter at all. The child actors are growing up, and they seem more comfortable in their roles here, bringing more depth and subtlety to their acting. And Branagh is wildly funny as Lockhart. There are also some magnificent cast additions, especially Jason Isaacs , coolly cruel as Lucius Malfoy, the father of Harry's foe, Draco ( Tom Felton ).

Every frame of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets is filled with wonder, especially Diagon Alley and the moving photos and portraits. There's a wealth of detail and delight to entrance viewers -- so much that they'll likely leave wanting more, even after a running time of 2 hours and 40 minutes.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about year two at Hogwarts and what Harry learns about himself in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets . How is it different from his first year?

What traits are helping Harry become a hero figure? Why must he face his enemy alone?

What do we find out about Tom Riddle and his diary later in the series that make them so important?

How does this movie compare to the book it is based on ? What makes a good adaptation? Were there parts in the book that weren't in the movie that should have been?

How do the characters in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets demonstrate teamwork , perseverance , and courage ? Why are these important character strengths ?

Movie Details

• In theaters : November 15, 2002
• On DVD or streaming : April 11, 2003
• Cast : Daniel Radcliffe , Emma Watson , Rupert Grint
• Director : Chris Columbus
• Studio : Warner Bros.
• Genre : Fantasy
• Topics : Magic and Fantasy , Adventures , Book Characters , Friendship , Great Boy Role Models , Great Girl Role Models , Monsters, Ghosts, and Vampires
• Character Strengths : Courage , Perseverance , Teamwork
• Run time : 161 minutes
• MPAA rating : PG
• MPAA explanation : scary moments, some creature violence and mild language
• Last updated : June 1, 2023

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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Harry Potter: A Film Analysis

by MuggleNet · Published March 6, 2012 · Updated March 9, 2023

by Jeffery Tucker

Abstract: I wrote an essay on the “Harry Potter” film series after seeing “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1.”

The Harry Potter film series will soon come to an end and what better way to acknowledge that than by analyzing the series? What are the positive and negative attributes? What are the best and worst aspects? How well do the creators perform their task of keeping the audience engaged and intrigued? Read on to find out how I, a fan of no importance, answer these inquiries.

As a fan of the novels (the last five, anyway), I no longer compare the films to what author J.K. Rowling wrote because that tends to bog down legitimate criticism. This type of criticism does not consist of nitpicks and complaints on what aspects of the books should not have been excluded. It’s preferable that a critic of the films, who also happens to be a fan of their book counterparts, only discuss what’s present on the screen to prevent the discussion from becoming off-topic with irrelevancies and disappointments of inaccurate, minute details. Therefore, no comparisons to the novels will be made on my part. I also will not go into detail on the plot and story of each film as this analysis assumes that you have seen them and know the information.

HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER’S STONE AND THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS

The only logical way to begin such an analysis is to start with the films that established the series, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone and the Chamber of Secrets , both directed by Christopher Columbus. I will preface the discussion of these films by stating that I loved Stone when I first saw it, but over the years began to develop a love-hate relationship. The same can be said for Chamber , but I eventually came to dislike it.

What the first entry into the film series does well is setting up and establishing the wizarding universe. The film shows us the difference between the Muggle world and the world occupied by magical beings. Harry enters the unknown and is marveled at what he is seeing and has been missing all of his life. The problem here is that that wonder, for the audience, disappears quite quickly.

The main issues with Stone (this is true for Chamber as well) are the boring visuals and the eventuality of the film losing the audience’s interest. The performances by the adult actors and the younger cast members cannot be thoroughly enjoyed when their presence is heavily accentuated and marred by a bland-looking castle with very little pop, and some of the worst visual effects from that year. As John William’s sweeping score permeates the boat ride up to Hogwarts, one cannot feel what the filmmakers intend because the experience is ruined by looking at the castle. The same feeling is replicated with each exterior shot and is experienced again, but to a lesser degree, when we view the interior. Director Christopher Columbus didn’t direct a single visually exciting shot in the film, and it’s a testament to his skills when put into the context of later directors who came to helm the series.

As for the visual effects, it’s difficult to be immersed in the world when they look quite terrible. If you compare the budget of Stone with Fellowship of the Ring (released in the same year), it’s inexcusable that the former has inferior visual effects, particularly the fight with the troll and Harry being jerked around by his seemingly possessed broom. The trend continues with the centaur Firenze, and Harry chasing flying keys to progress further into the plot with the Sorcerer’s Stone.

Stone seems to slog along after the quite-eventful Quidditch match. We see the trio struggle to put the pieces together but it just isn’t entertaining enough and it feels like your standard detective fare. There are of course some interesting moments interspersed between those scenes, like Snape’s altercation with Filch, but that doesn’t fill the void of something left to be desired: an immensely entertaining experience. Steve Kloves’ script needed to be cut down and reworked to make things more interesting.

There are of course positives, most notably everything up until where the film begins to drag, excluding the visual problems noted above. Seeing Harry learn about being a wizard and coming to the realization that he isn’t a freak is wonderful. The score is excellent and really complements the source material. Williams continues to do this with the second and third entry into the series.

For Chamber , I’m not going to delve into the visuals, as they mirror the first with the exception of superior visual effects. I will instead focus on its longevity and immensely boring nature. The film clocks in at nearly two hours and forty minutes (with credits) and you can feel every minute of it. It’s sad that everything preceding Harry’s return to Hogwarts is superior to everything taking place within it. The humor present when Harry first visits the Burrow will elicit laughs from time to time, even upon repeat viewings. The same can be said for the moments at the bookstore in Diagon Alley when the audience is treated to the first appearance of Gilderoy Lockhart.

Just like Chamber ‘s older brother, there are moments sprinkled throughout its runtime that are entertaining but do not make up for even more standard detective fare, which this time seems to go on and on. Kenneth Branagh’s portrayal of Lockhart is the highlight in these moments, along with Rickman as Snape. Kloves’ script here too needed to be cut and reworked.

Overall, the first two films range from “wholly mediocre” to “an overlong chore.” Stone creates the world for the audience, and even though it has problems, you won’t be wishing for it to end. Chamber , however, makes you wonder what happened during the creating process to disengage the audience so much throughout.

HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN

The series starts to become interesting with Prisoner of Azkaban , directed by Alfonso Cuaron. The opening scene, even with the problem of inconsistency – the “no magic outside of school” rule established in Chamber – shows that the audience is in for something different. Everything about Prisoner differs from Stone and Chamber : the direction, the cinematography, the acting, the tone, the usage of themes, the music, and even the humor.

What Prisoner excels at most is its look and Cuaron’s direction. When both are coupled, it makes for a pleasant visual experience and puts the first two films to shame. Hogwarts is no longer bland; it’s rich with shadows and actually looks like a castle. Hogwarts’ grounds have been completely redesigned and that’s for the better. Yes, it’s an inconsistency, but not a bothersome one as it improves upon Columbus’ lackluster vision. Cuaron’s stylistic choices are a welcome relief. The camera actually moves in interesting ways as opposed to the cliche movements employed in Prisoner’s predecessors. The decision to show the passing of time through seasons and how they affect the Whomping Willow, while frowned upon by many, is simply marvelous and is further evidence that there’s a lack of creative imagination in Stone and Chamber .

In regards to the acting, and this is an unpopular opinion, Michael Gambon’s portrayal as Dumbledore in Prisoner is superior to Richard Harris’. He plays calm, collective, and cool all wrapped into one, and you don’t have to listen to a grasping voice hoping to be able to discern what’s being spoken. Gary Oldman’s performance as Sirius Black never fails to disappoint.

Unfortunately, all of this glowing praise for Prisoner must come to a halt as there are problems with the film. The humor is unfunny and the slapstick portions are quite grating. The repetitious nature of the humor during the Knight Bus scene is just as annoying as it is ridiculous. Another problem presents itself with the Time Turner sequences. Time travel by definition is ridiculous in every sense of the word and it’s rarely well done on screen, but the scenes in Prisoner are great upon first viewing. Sadly, they seem to drag with each subsequent viewing because you are going through scenes that have already taken place earlier in the film, although from a different point of view. Another fault lies in the visual effects and how Buckbeak simply looks unreal. The entire rendering looks soft and the lighting is completely off, giving the feathers on the hippogriff an unnatural, and wholly unrealistic look.

The final complaint I have saved for last and it’s a fault against Daniel Radcliffe and the director. It’s simply unbearable when Harry, crying, screams that Sirius Black “was [his parent’s] friend!” The lack of emoting properly on Radcliffe’s part and Cuaron’s choice to accept the performance is unacceptable. That line takes you out of the aftermath of a great expository scene because it’s so terribly delivered.

Overall, Prisoner of Azkaban is a worthy and excellent sequel. It quashes the main faults of the first two films in the series and fixes them, while leaving the audience wondering what else is in store for the boy wizard and his companions.

HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE

Hot on the heels of the splendid Prisoner of Azkaban , director Mike Newell’s Goblet of Fire seems like a lovely film at first, but after paying close attention, it’s nothing more than mediocrity. It’s far better than Stone and Chamber , however. The opening is a great one and it, like Prisoner , promises the audience a treat in the visual department. Nothing seems visually unnatural or bland in Goblet and the only problems are the ones involving the pacing, creative decisions, and lack of exposition to inform the audience who haven’t read the novel.

One of Goblet ‘s biggest problems involves unintentional humor, which is first seen after the Quidditch World Cup when the Death Eaters arrive in outfits that border on parody. Are they supposed to look like remnants of the Ku Klux Klan? Death Eaters are apparently a ruthless bunch but their entrance suggests otherwise. More of this type of humor is present when select students from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang are introduced. The way the Beauxbatons enter the Great Hall and perform whatever those vocalizations are is ridiculous and completely laughable. It’s made even worse when magical objects flutter about near the end of the presentation. The Durmstrang entrance is doubly so as you listen to the terrible music accompanying a useless display of unimpressive acrobatics. These are some examples of terrible creative decisions by the filmmakers.

As for pacing, the film begins to suffer after the Triwizard champions are chosen; everything before it flows perfectly. We have to sit through Harry and Ron acting like stupid children when they aren’t on speaking terms, and even witness Hermione acting as an intermediary. More problems occur during the first task of the Triwizard tournament where Harry has an overlong altercation with a dragon. The entire chase is ridiculous, exaggerated, and difficult to sit through upon further viewings. How Harry manages what he did at his age, without the aid of magic (excluding his broom), is beyond me.

The best moment in the entire film happens after the third task when Lord Voldemort returns. Ralph Fiennes’ excellent acting makes sitting through what came before it completely worth it. He manages to act menacingly without being overdramatic, which can’t be said for David Tennant’s performance as Barty Crouch Jr. The duel between Harry and Voldemort is a visual feat but what happens confuses the audience who haven’t read the novel. This is where an expository scene would have been nice instead of Dumbledore simply naming the effect. The wands connected yes, but why did apparitions appear? Why did Harry’s parents appear? It’s possible that these viewers can put two and two together, but Dumbledore needed to tell Harry because he is completely confused by the phenomenon when he makes an inquiry.

Goblet of Fire is another worthy sequel in the series, even with its mediocrity. The series takes a slightly darker turn with this entry and that trend continues with the next sequel.

HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX, THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE, AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS PART I

David Yates worked almost exclusively in the television medium until he helmed Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix . He did such a wonderful job, at least enough to satisfy Warner Bros., that he was asked to come back for Half-Blood Prince and eventually the rest of the series. Thank God for that.

If there’s one complaint thrown at Phoenix the most it’s that it has the shortest run time at 2 hours and 18 minutes. It works and was clearly for the best because that extra twelve minutes to make it two and a half hours could have been filled with boring, tedious moments and would have mirrored every film that came before it. The pacing in Phoenix is impeccable. There isn’t a moment where I’m checking to see how much time remains. This is because Yates’ creative decisions and the series’ new screenwriter keep your eyes glued to the screen and wanting more.

Yates employs montages during the film utilizing the unique properties of newspapers in the wizarding world: pictures on the page move. Instead of short, repeated movements, the camera moves into the images and we see full-length video. This is such an improvement over the students sitting down in the Great Hall and reading the Daily Prophet (Prisoner). Another excellent decision was the changing of the look of Prisoner’s dementors; they actually look threatening and don’t resemble the Nazgul from Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy. Sure it’s an inconsistency, but the change didn’t break a rule within the universe established in an earlier chapter.

More common complaints levied against the film include Nicholas Hooper’s score and the look of the Ministry of Magic. I couldn’t disagree more – when Hooper’s score is played over the film’s opening, we know that we won’t be hearing too many bombastic notes that the previous films have included. Instead, there are instances of subtle musical nuances that, when the time is right, erupt to complement the scene. Hooper’s cheery music is also excellent, especially Umbridge’s theme as it represents how she’s feeling after her successful attempts to take over Hogwarts. As for the Ministry of Magic, it looks stellar and makes sense when put into the context of how the new Minister of Magic operates. His ego is on display when we see the gigantic photo of him hanging in the atrium and fits with his desire for power.

The acting has also improved in Phoenix , especially Radcliffe’s. He convincingly acts like an angry teenager who feels abandoned by friends and prominent figures in his life. His performance after Sirius dies is such an improvement over that lone performance in Prisoner that I mentioned. Helena Bonham Carter’s introduction is menacingly great and her acting abilities are on display in the Ministry of Magic. She also has one of the best lines in the film, “Neville Longbottom, is it? How’s mum and dad” To say that to the child whose parents you tortured is darkly humorous.

One of the few complaints I have is that the visual effects are not always consistent. For instance, Grawp is simply not well-rendered and doesn’t fit in the scenes well with the cast. Another example of mediocre visual effects includes the centaurs taking Umbridge away after she insults and attacks them. The best effects sequence in the entire film takes place when Voldemort and Dumbledore finally duel. Seeing all of the glass in the atrium shatter after Voldemort deflects the two’s connecting spells is marvelous, and even more so when Dumbledore turns the shards into the sand as they race toward him.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is the superior sequel up to this point in the series and the high quality therein continues with its successor.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is the second-best film in the series to date. After taking a break and not scribing the screenplay for Order of the Phoenix , Steve Kloves returns and steps up his game. None of the problems that plague the first four movies are present here and it seems that the time he took off shaped his writing. The film is expertly paced and the dialogue is mostly sharp.

While Prince appears to be a tale of sexual politics, it is balanced quite well with the darker material, namely Draco Malfoy’s subplot and the plot of unraveling the Dark Lord’s past. The former is done very, very well and manages to keep you interested even during repeat viewings. Hooper’s score is perfect during those scenes, just like the rest of the film. The memory sequences are well crafted and show that Voldemort was devious as a child and a teenager like he is now, and wants to know all he can to become all-powerful.

Prince’s cinematography surpasses every film before it thanks to Bruno Delbonnel, known for his work on Amelie. He creates a dark, moody, and murky feel to the Potter universe that we haven’t seen since Prisoner . This feeling fits the film’s material perfectly, even during cheery and romantic scenes.

The acting is mostly top-notch. Actress Jesse Cave disgusts the audience with her ability to portray Ron’s creepy and obsessed love interest, Lavender Brown. Kloves and Yates respectively wrote and directed her performance to be over the top. Veteran actor Jim Broadbent makes his first appearance as the new potions professor, Horace Slughorn. Broadbent can play goofy and tragic at the drop of the hat. He has one of the most sentimental scenes in the entire movie: the recitation of a gift Lily Potter gave him before, as Aunt Petunia says in Stone , she “got herself blown up.” Tom Felton’s performance is superior to the acting of the trio. He gives off an heir of frightfulness as he scrambles to complete his assigned mission in time. Radcliffe, Watson, and Grint didn’t step up at all in their performance which is completely unfortunate. Alan Rickman leaves a sense of ambiguity to his performance throughout, which is nearly flawless. For Dumbledore, Michael Gambon continues to prove that he is better than Richard Harris.

The outstanding Half-Blood Prince paves the way for the first part in the final chapter of the series. It all comes down to these final two to determine whether or not we have spent the last decade wasting our time with the film series. Will David Yates complete his vision and leave us satisfied? For Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part I , he most certainly has.

Part one of the final chapter is indeed the best film in the entire series up to this point, in every respect. Even with its faults, it manages to engage and impress the audience. There is very little to consider negative here. Kloves and Yates have outdone themselves with this installment. They both have created the darkest movie yet and it’s a great sigh of relief.

Hallows, Part 1 finally brings an immensely dark tone to the series that has been needed since Chamber ended. The sense of the trio’s isolation is felt throughout and emphasized by the prolonged period of them camping alone in the wilderness. The altercations and interactions they have with one another exemplify that even further. Consider the verbal and slightly physical fight Harry and Ron have. While Ron’s feelings are mostly brought on by the Horcrux, remnants of those feelings are there for it to feed on. He ends up leaving, abandoning Harry and Hermione. Harry tries to cheer her up but it doesn’t work well at all.

This uneasy, gloomy feeling about the world is given more prominence when you hear the names of the numerous dead on the radio Ron has in his possession. Their world is now erupting in war and no enemy is spared. The parallels to Nazi Germany, while unfortunately not subtle, show what the wizarding world is becoming with ruthless individuals in power.

After seeing Prince , I thought that the cinematography would never be surpassed but it has. The camera work in Hallows, Part 1 is quite shaky but that effect is used artistically to show the frantic nature of the trio’s journey. A perfect example would entail the scene where the actor playing the disguised Harry enters Umbridge’s room to look for the locket. As he’s scrambling through desk drawers looking for the locket, the camera begins to sway back and forth, up and down, showing that he’s anxious to find it. The camera then becomes mostly steady as he stares at photos of enemy combatants, including the now-deceased Dumbledore. More excellent camerawork is on display when the trio is trying to escape the Snatchers on foot. Things are chaotic for the trio and the shaky camerawork is used to note this.

Yates has managed to bring out the best performances in the trio. Watson has never been better and the opening scene with Hermione wiping her parents’ memories shows that she has it in her to do more. The breaking of the trio resulting from Harry and Ron fighting is expertly performed by Radcliffe and Grint. The latter convincingly acts like the Horcrux is feeding on his negative emotions. Helena Bonham Carter increases her sadistic Bellatrix performance as she tortures Hermione.

The visual effects and the score are top-of-the-line. The best effects sequence involves Harry and Hermione in a sexually-charged embrace. While a combination of live-action and computer graphics, it’s impressive and erotic enough to enable Ron to destroy the Horcrux housing the faux couple. As for the score, it is superior to every score in the series, including Williams’, which was already beaten by Hooper’s work. The music used for the Death Eaters is simply fantastic and when Voldemort gets his hands on the Elder Wand, his score erupts to let the audience know that the trio is in danger.

The only faults against the film involve Dobby and the humor associated with him. The Malfoy Manor scene, while outstanding, is jarring when he comes into the mix with stupid humor. The inclusion of Dobby is only there for fan service because, logically, it makes no sense for him to make an appearance after being absent for four films. I personally think Dobby should have been scrapped and replaced with Kreacher.

Yates is the best director in the series. He has an eye for visuals that surpasses every other director and he managed to direct the best performances the series has seen. With the work he has done on Phoenix, Prince, and Hallows, Part 1 , I know that the final chapter in the saga will satisfy me.

Read “A Film Analysis (continued): Deathly Hallows Part Two”

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Harry Potter and the Adaptation from Novel to Film

Submitted by: Robyn Joffe

Harry Potter and the Adaptation from Novel to Film  

By Robyn Joffe

For as long as people have been making movies, people have been making movies based on books. Films have also been adapted from several other forms such as television shows, theatrical plays and even other movies. More recently, entire book series have been adapted, such as the Lord of the Rings trilogy and the still in progress Harry Potter series . With six of the seven books written, and five films finished (four of them released), the Harry Potter franchise has a lot to offer scholars interested in the how-to's and the results of adapting books to film.

The Harry Potter films, which started with the release of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone in the year 2001, depict the events covered in the books in a more filmic fashion. The films bring Rowling's words to life; however, as is nearly always the case in adapting work of one form to another, the transitions can be less than smooth. As Deborah Cartmell, senior lecturer in English writes, "An adaptation is undeniably an appropriation of the text, and although the plot remains the same, the telling ’ or the interpreting of it ’ radically changes from one generation to the next." 1

From time constraints to a director's need for artistic expression to casting choices to how a film is promoted, the process of transforming a book to a film can be fraught with peril. Other such issues surrounding direction, characterization, pacing and chosen content (among others) can also contribute to a film's eventual success or failure. Though the resulting movie may in fact be a good film, the question that must be asked is whether it is a good film version of the book . Though most published academic works covering the adaptation of a book to a film focus on classic novels, such as those by Shakespeare or Jane Austen, adaptations are not made merely from acclaimed literary masterpieces. What the Harry Potter series lacks in academic acknowledgment, it more than makes up for in mass popular appeal.

For this reason, this essay will dissect the Harry Potter books and their resulting films, paying particular attention to what issues in the process of adaptation were most relevant to each, and see what, if any, perils were encountered in the making of them. In doing so, this essay will make use of both scholarly and amateur sources, because while authoritative texts are more often relied upon (and with good reason) in essays such as this, the opinions fueled by the unquestionable knowledge of the Harry Potter fan base (in regards to the content of both the books and films), are not necessarily any less valid than their more academically informed counterparts.

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (2001)

Graham Greene, one of the first major literary talents to show an interest in writing for films (and one who often adapted his own short stories) once described the screenwriter as "a ˜forgotten man' once the film went into production, since after that point other hands might make alterations to the screenplay." 2 In a much more recent book, the same sentiment was expressed: "Despite the excellent compensation, a Hollywood scriptwriter is a low man on the totem pole, and much of his work ’ sometimes all of his work ’ is not used." 3 However, for Harry Potter screenwriter Steve Kloves, working with director Christopher Columbus was an experience in the opposite. In fact, Columbus described their collaboration ’ which went from script development through production ’ as "something of a dream situation' 4 and Kloves further explained that "Chris has been willing to listen to any idea, and he doesn't think it's right until we both agree it's right, which is great." 5

Columbus also went a step further in welcoming the continued involvement of not just the screenwriter ’ but the original novelist as well; "My desire was to remain faithful to the story, the characters and the integrity of those characters ... I realized that I had found a solid collaborator [in Rowling]. And it was important because she knows this world better than anyone else." 6

Producer David Heyman also noted that Rowling "has been given the freedom to exert perhaps more influence on the Potter films than is usual when a book is adapted for the screen." 7 This is no doubt due to the fact that the book series is not yet completed, or as Kloves himself put it; "It's the only time I've ever been involved in a story without an ending ... And you would think [Rowling] would tell me something [about it], since I am writing it. But she won't." 8 Along with script approval, author J.K. Rowling had one other demand: that the actors playing the British characters actually be British. Thus, casting began.

Casting a film that is being adapted from a book can often become very controversial, especially if fans get wind of which actors are being considered beforehand. Because many novels that are made into films are not illustrated, the reader has created a picture of each character in their mind, according to any descriptions from the book, and accepting an actor who may not entirely fit that description or picture is something that many fans find hard to do. On the other hand, it is not always only a matter of a fan being unable to let go of his/her own interpretation of a character. At times, the decision to cast a certain actor in a certain role can be questionable no matter how good they might be.

An example of this would be the casting of Alan Rickman in the role of Professor Severus Snape. Though Rickman is a very talented actor, he was also fifty-five years old when the first movie was released, whereas at the start of the series Snape is supposedly only thirty-two years old. 9 While one might think that the age difference does not matter so long as the appearance is appropriate, the difference ’ particularly as it's more than twenty years ’ has an effect on that as well. In the book, part of Harry's perception of Snape is that "his eyes were black like Hagrid's, but they had none of Hagrid's warmth. They were cold and empty and made you think of dark tunnels." 10 Snape's youth, coupled with his demeanor, present a more tragic juxtaposition in the book than they do in the film because in the film that juxtaposition does not even exist. How can it when the embittered contempt that emanates from the character is easily understandable, rather than jarring, in the lined face of an older actor?

The choice to cast Rickman has also lead to another unforeseen side effect among Harry Potter fans: Lust.

The newfound Snapemania was sparked in part by the casting of actor Alan Rickman ’ well-established as "the thinking woman's sex symbol" ’ in the role. Rickman's feline movements and mellifluous voice give the Potions Master a sensuality absent from the page. And beyond the shoulder-length black wig and black contact lenses Rickman wears, no attempt is made to ugly him up. 11

This has even led to Rowling herself questioning whether those who profess their love of the character are talking about Snape, or Alan Rickman, and (as the same thing has occurred in the case of Harry's nemesis, Draco Malfoy) lamenting the humanizing effect that an attractive actor tends to have on the villainous characters he portrays; "Isn't this life, though? I make this hero ’ Harry, obviously ’ and there he is on screen ... but who does every girl under the age of fifteen fall in love with? Tom Felton as Draco Malfoy." 12

Aside from these and other slight deviations, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (known as Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone in the United States 13 ), is remarkably faithful to its source text. In fact, BBC film reviewer Adrian Hennigan wrote that Columbus treated "J.K. Rowling's debut novel with a reverence that wasn't even accorded to the Bible." 14

However, not all deemed such devotion praise-worthy, and the film "was criticized by many as being too faithful to the book." 15 One summed the film up as "an adaptation which paradoxically undermines itself by aiming at a faithful replication of the source text' 16 while others merely declared that "a commitment to fidelity (in response to the perceived demands of readers/viewers) compromises the processes of adaptation." 17 However, on the other side of the spectrum, respected critic Roger Ebert wrote that the film had succeeded in doing "full justice to a story that was a daunting challenge ... During [the film] I was pretty sure I was watching a classic." 18

There are a couple of issues that help explain this broad range of reactions ’ aside from the obvious reality of people having different opinions. One of these issues is that this book and film are the first of a series, and so while the actual plot is one of mystery, it doesn't appear until rather late in the actual story ’ the time up to that point being taken up by Harry's introduction to (and the setting up of) the wizarding world. In fact, in the shooting script for the film, the titular Stone is only very obliquely referred to for the first time on the twenty-second page; "Hogwarts business. Very secret' 19 and once more on the forty-third; "the third floor corridor ... is out of bounds to everyone who does not wish to die a most painful death' 20 before the characters are confronted with the actual mystery on page fifty-five:

HERMIONE Didn't you see what it was standing on? [...] It was standing on a trapdoor, which means it's not there by accident. It's-

HARRY Guarding something. 21

This means that the actual plot of the first film doesn't start until fifty-five pages into the script, completely ignoring a rule that is not just for "adaptation, it's a rule of screenwriting in general. You've only got about thirty pages to set everything up. Establish your main characters ... ground the audience in the world where your story takes place, introduce the dramatic problem, and move into the second act." 22 Lagging with the opening could add to any pacing problems that might develop, as well as become the source of accusations of too much fidelity by critics. And yet, because this introduction is not just for this film but for the entire series, it's (arguably) necessary, because the plotline revolving around the Philosopher's Stone might be the focus of the first film, but Harry's place in the wizarding world remains a focus of each of the films that follow. To breeze through it would be inexcusable, making the resulting ambling movement towards the main plot of the film all but unavoidable. However, it is worth it to remember that that introduction is part of what the audience is there to see.

The other issue that must be highlighted when discussing the expectations of both fans and critics is the overwhelming, ever-growing Harry Potter phenomenon that accompanies the release of every single bit of news even remotely relating to the series. As Suman Gupta wrote in a chapter of his book entitled Movie Magic : "Very seldom have films been so preordained to be blockbusters, received so much media attention before they appeared ... been anticipated with so much informed readiness." 23

Perhaps Professor Philip Nel put it best when he wrote that "the film does no violence to readers' imagined versions of characters and events, but it does not offer its own creative vision." 24

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002)

This film, like the first, was directed by Christopher Columbus and written for the screen by Steve Kloves. Because most of the creative team was the same, most of the commentary towards the process of creating this film is similar as well. However, there are some significant differences and additional issues unexplored in the topic for the previous film that warrant its own ’ albeit shorter ’ discussion.

Structurally, the second film is quite different from the first, as the introduction to the entire Harry Potter universe isn't necessary this time around. As Rowling put it; "The first one is episodic ... And Chamber is a more linear structure so it was easier to translate to screen." 25 However, it is also the longest Harry Potter film (though, to be fair, it only beats Goblet of Fire by four minutes), and the pacing suffers for it. As one critic wrote, "You get the sense that its makers have tried to film a novel instead of make a movie' 26 while another pointed out that "watching the film, I mostly felt sensory overload as one special effect was piled atop another. In fact director Chris Columbus has scrupulously avoided anything like genuine emotion." 27

To be fair, he was worrying about other things - namely, his young stars.

Casting these kids at the beginning of Sorcerer's Stone was, in a way, horrifying. I spent the first two weeks on that film trying to get them to look away from the camera, stop smiling and be able to utter one line so I could cut around it. 28

The experience (or lack of same) of his actors contributed in a large way to how Columbus was able to shoot both of the Harry Potter movies he filmed. As none of the child actors had ever done anything professional before ’ aside from Daniel Radcliffe, who had only had a few small roles ’ the movie had to be shot and edited around them. The first two Harry Potter films owe their less-than-sophisticated look to the fact that prolonged camera shots and wide angles were simply not possible in most cases involving the young stars ’ and neither was the endless repetition that can otherwise be associated with film-making. In fact, Columbus "rehearsed very little with the children since ... he didn't want to lose their spontaneity." 29

In Columbus' words; "When we wrapped on Chamber of Secrets , their performances had improved immensely, and they had become seasoned professionals. I felt my job was complete' 30 and with his job complete, so was the second film.

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)

It is in the discussion of the third film in the Harry Potter series that a more intricate and varied discussion on the pros and cons of the adaptation process can truly commence. This is not to say that discussing the first two films is without merit, but that as the books get longer (indeed, the third one is the first of the series to break 300 pages), and the plots grow more complex, the resulting portrayals on film offer more topics to debate.

Another reason that this progression reflected so obviously on the film series was that Christopher Columbus, director of the first two films, stepped back into the role of co-producer (with David Heyman and others) on this film, leading to Mexican filmmaker Alfonso Cuarón being hired to direct. Having previously brought his unique visual style to films like A Little Princess (and consequently proving he could work with children), Cuarón was drafted to lead the Harry Potter series in a new direction: "My approach was that I wanted to do a character driven piece, with cool visual effects, rather than a visual effects movie with some characters running around." 31

At the same time, Cuarón was conscious of the fact that he was stepping into an already-established universe, admitting that "it was one of [his] hesitations" before accepting the position. 32 He solved that dilemma by resolving to serve the material: "and the material meant before anything else the book, and then secondly the position of this film in the franchise of Harry Potter." 33

His overall success may be debatable, but what cannot be questioned is the dramatic change made in the look of this third film. As Columbus remembers: "Most of our sets were already built, but Alfonso had a desire ’ as did our production designer Stuart Craig ’ to open up the picture." 34 Using more wide-angle and tracking shots to heighten the sense of drama, 35 Cuarón was intent on facilitating the overall flow of the film, as well as creating lasting visual connections throughout. 36 Particular focus was paid to images relating to time (Harry spends several scenes in and around a large clock tower at Hogwarts), and identity (there are numerous scenes that start or end on a close up of a character's eye), in keeping with the themes Cuarón had chosen to highlight. The use of darker colours, more haunting music and dramatic lighting ("high contrast, more shadows") also contributed to the "very different look and feel from the previous films." 37

Perhaps the most important decision made to create this result, however, was one that was more philosophical than technical: "One of the things we decided was that in order for the magic to spring forward more naturally, it had to come from a real and honest place ... What we sought to create was a sense of reality in which the characters interact with each other." 38

Cuarón felt that choosing Michael Seresin for the film's cinematography would help to achieve that goal:

One thing that I felt was perfect for Michael was that we have this magical universe that he could really ground. Because he has got that grittiness, and that grittiness comes from the fact that he is a single-source light cinematographer. He's very naturalistic in that sense. I felt it would be a good marriage with the material. 39

And he seems to have succeeded. As Sloan de Forest, editor and contributor to Scribbulus , writes: "[In] the third film, I saw an immense, imposing Hogwarts drained of its warmth but injected with a unique style and grainy realism not present in the first two films." 40 The film was lauded by both critics and fans as being "the closest any of the films has gotten to capturing the enormously pleasing essence of the Potter books' 41 and there seemed to be a tentative collective agreement that Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban was a truly great movie. But that does not mean it was a great movie of the book , and as this is the difference that this essay seeks to highlight, more in depth examination is necessary.

The unique thing about the book, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban , is that it is arguably not a story in and of itself ’ but the story of a story, which gradually unfolds throughout the book, finally leading to its climactic reveal and the ensuing repercussions. The book covering Harry Potter's third year at Hogwarts is not about Harry Potter's third year at all, but about the events leading up to his parents' deaths twelve years before.

It is fitting, then, that with this book comes the introduction of several new characters, including two of particular importance: Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor Remus Lupin, and the escaped titular Prisoner of Azkaban, Sirius Black. One interviewer notes that their "connection with ... Harry's parents is a major factor in Azkaban's back-story' 42 but though most of that quotation is true, it is the use of the word "back-story" that is the problem.

As Amy Z wrote in her essay An Elegantly Woven Tapestry: Plotlines in Prisoner of Azkaban , "it's true that there is no single central plot in [the story], because one candidate (Quidditch) lacks gravitas, and another (Sirius [versus] Harry) proves to be an illusion." 43 Instead, in the absence of an obvious main storyline, it is the so-called "back-story" that takes centre stage; "while Harry is going about his life ... there is another drama mostly invisible to him (and to us, until the second reading): that of Lupin, Black, Snape, and, if you think about it, Pettigrew." 44 In Prisoner of Azkaban the back-story becomes the main plot, as even though the events transpired twelve years previous, they are unfolding to Harry in the present and the story's climax happens when the truth is finally revealed to all. In that way, there was no conclusion to the events in the past, instead, it was as if those involved were put on hold, held in stasis until Harry's third year at Hogwarts when they were at last able to play it out:

"Everyone thought Sirius killed Peter' said Lupin, nodding. "I believed it myself ” until I saw the map tonight. Because the Marauder's Map never lies... Peter's alive. Ron's holding him, Harry."

"If you're going to tell them the story, get a move on, Remus' said Black, who was still watching Scabbers's every desperate move. "I've waited twelve years, I'm not going to wait much longer."

"Harry' said Lupin hurriedly, "don't you see? All this time we've thought Sirius betrayed your parents, and Peter tracked him down ” but it was the other way around, don't you see? Peter betrayed your mother and father ” Sirius tracked Peter down ”" 45

As Amy Z writes: "We think the story is about Black trying to kill Harry, so the plot seems focused on that; but that's not what the story is about. It's about Sirius in a whole different way, and it's as much about Pettigrew." 46 With the misunderstandings cleared up and the truth of the events of twelve years before revealed, the climax of their story becomes the climax of the book itself ’ one which ultimately ends in near disaster, allowing the fallout to finally occur.

In discussing how she has conceptualized the third book, Harry Potter fan Kelly Parker writes:

I think the third book is more about setting up the series for later on and dealing more with the past and how it is affecting Harry and the entire wizarding world now. It's not so much about his schooling ... his schooling takes a back seat to finding out about his godfather and dealing with all of that. I personally think this is one of the most pivotal books in the series. 47

Unfortunately, Alfonso Cuarón apparently did not see it in exactly the same way: "This film is concerned with confronting [the characters'] innermost fears ... It's [also] a journey of a character's seeking his identity and accepting who he is. To step out of the shadow of his father, for instance, is one of the themes." 48 Putting aside the question of whether or not this is true, the difference of opinion as to the main focus of the story obviously resulted in the exclusion of certain things.

One of the most often cited examples of such an exclusion is the actual back-story of Harry's parents and their friends. Included in this example are several key pieces of information that are either missing from the film entirely, or mentioned in vague generalities that are easily glossed over. The most important piece of information that is introduced in this story is the betrayal of Harry's parents that led to their deaths. It is in this book that we learn that Voldemort could not just go and attack the Potters, and that they would have been safe had they not trusted the wrong person, because of the preparations they had taken before going into hiding:

"Dumbledore told them that their best chance was the Fidelius Charm."

"How does that work?" said Madam Rosmerta, breathless with interest. Professor Flitwick cleared his throat.

"An immensely complex spell' he said squeakily, "involving the magical concealment of a secret inside a single, living soul. The information is hidden inside the chosen person, or Secret-Keeper, and is henceforth impossible to find ” unless, of course, the Secret-Keeper chooses to divulge it. As long as the Secret-Keeper refused to speak, You-Know-Who could search the village where Lily and James were staying for years and never find them, not even if he had his nose pressed against their sitting room window!" 49

The fact that Sirius Black was thought to be the Potters' Secret-Keeper, and therefore the only person capable of betraying them, is rather central to how he became the titular Prisoner , having been sent to Azkaban without a trial. The fact that Peter Pettigrew was the actual Secret-Keeper, and therefore the only possible betrayer of the Potters: " ˜ Lily and James only made you Secret-Keeper because I suggested it,' Black hissed ... ˜I thought it was the perfect plan... a bluff... Voldemort would be sure to come after me ... It must have been the finest moment of your miserable life, telling Voldemort you could hand him the Potters,' " 50 is also central to understanding the story. However, interestingly enough, the word "Secret-Keeper" is never spoken even once during the entire film, and the importance of the role is instead glossed over, when it is referred to at all: "Well, now, years ago, when Harry Potter's parents realized that they were marked for death ’ do you remember? ’ they went into hiding. Few knew where they were. One who did, was Sirius Black ’ and he told You-Know-Who!" 51

Aside from being factually wrong, as it was Harry and not his parents who was marked for death, the use of the word "few" and the phrase "one who did" instead of " the one who did" would imply that more than one person knew where the Potters were hiding. This would, in turn, mean that more than one person would have been able to betray them, rendering Sirius Black's immediate condemnation inexplicable ’ and potentially Peter Pettigrew's later one as well.

Although it minimizes the betrayal of the Potters, the vagueness that resulted from the absence of the word "Secret-Keeper" could still have been explained had another piece of information been included:

Sirius here played a trick on [Snape] which nearly killed him ... [he] thought it would be ’ er ’ amusing, to tell Snape all he had to do was prod the knot on the tree-trunk with a long stick, and he'd be able to get in after me ... if he'd got as far as this house, he'd have met a fully grown werewolf. 52

The knowledge that Sirius Black, at sixteen, sent a fellow classmate to his death without remorse (later saying it was just a prank), would have gone a long way to explaining why of the "few" who "knew where [the Potters] were", he was the most likely suspect: " ˜ Sirius Black showed he was capable of murder at the age of sixteen,' [Snape] breathed. ˜You haven't forgotten that, Headmaster? You haven't forgotten that he once tried to kill me ?' " 53 And although this might be considered a deviation from the central plot, or potentially slow exposition in a genre where showing is prized above telling , film as a visual medium allows for both to happen at once. This enlightening bit of back-story could easily have been accompanied by either a flashback or a montage of images, illustrating what was being said. However, this did not happen, and unfortunately, it is not the most important piece of information left out of the final film, by far.

The fact that Remus Lupin, Peter Pettigrew, Sirius Black, and James Potter are the same Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs who created the map Harry is coincidentally given by his friends is never mentioned, even when ample opportunity arises ’ as seen in the following comparative examples:

Prisoner of Azkaban (the book):

"I happen to know that this map was confiscated by Mr. Filch many years ago. Yes, I know it's a map' [Lupin] said, as Harry and Ron looked amazed. 54

Prisoner of Azkaban (the film):

PROFESSOR LUPIN I don't know how this map came to be in your possession, Harry, but I'm astounded that you didn't turn it in....

Harry walks silently. 55

While this might seem a small, relatively unimportant piece of information, it would only be considered so in isolation. However, this is not so. The connection of each man to his nickname not only solidifies the reality of their once close friendship, but it also connects each to his animal form and the fact that three became Animagi for the fourth: "My three friends could hardly fail to notice that I disappeared once a month ... I was terrified they would desert me ... [but] they didn't desert me at all. ... They became Animagi ... They couldn't keep me company as humans, so they kept me company as animals. A werewolf is only a danger to people." 56

The connection to Animagi is important because of the role that each man's form plays in the overall story. Peter Pettigrew is able to fake his own death and hide for twelve years as Ron's pet rat; Sirius Black is able to both keep his sanity while in and finally escape from Azkaban as a large dog; and Harry is able to discover and reclaim a part of his father, which he finds within himself, when his Patronus takes on the form of his father's stag. And while the first two are obvious in the film without the nickname connection, the fact that James Potter was an Animagus is not, and therefore the significance of Harry's Patronus is lost. This is particularly ironic considering that it is James Potter as Prongs who is arguably the link between the opinions of the fans already stated as to the main storyline of the book, and director Alfonso Cuarón's interpretation: "It has to do with Harry coming to terms with his male energy, his father and what his father is." 57

The absence of this information is notable not only because it details exactly "what his father is", but also because the information was there in the shooting script, but still didn't make it to the final cut:

PROFESSOR LUPIN Before I go, tell me about your Patronus.

HARRY Well. At first I thought it was a horse, or perhaps a unicorn, but I think it was ’

PROFESSOR LUPIN A stag.

PROFESSOR LUPIN Your father used to transform into one. That's how he was able to keep me company when I became... sick. ... There are stories about him and your mother, you know. Some are even true. But I think it's safe to say, in the end you'll know them best by getting to know yourself. 58

As the final cut of the film is decided on by the director (and the editor, at his direction), it is particularly peculiar that none of the dialogue in this excerpt ’ all of which would go towards emphasizing Cuarón's apparent vision ’ appears in the finished version. This would not be a problem were it not for the fact that in losing these aspects of the story, the viewer is treated to a film that is incomplete ’ not only in and of itself, but also as a part of the ongoing series.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005)

As with the third film, the fourth in the Harry Potter series invites a more detailed discussion on the difficulties and competing interests involved in adapting a book to a film. Fortunately for this essay, most of the issues raised in this discussion differ significantly from those presented in each previous film. One reason for this difference was the inclusion of a new director, filmmaker Mike Newell of Four Weddings and a Funeral fame, who, in his own words, had "never made a film like this before and [had] never made a film even a quarter as big as this before." 59 Unlike the other films in the series thus far, this film presented a directorial challenge even before shooting began. At 636 pages, Goblet of Fire is more than double the size of Prisoner of Azkaban (the longest of the previous three), and Warner Bros. Studio originally intended to split the story in half, shooting the two films back to back, and releasing them close together ’ similar to what had been done for the second and third films of the Matrix trilogy. 60 Mike Newell, however, thought this unnecessary: "As far as I'm concerned it's absolutely possible to do it in one. I think it would be slightly embarrassing to do it in two." 61

Aiming to avoid this, Newell pitched his conception of the story to the producers; "I said to them, I said, I can only make this if you will agree that what we're making is a thriller and we will ruthlessly take out stuff that doesn't go to that' 62 later adding that the whole point of the story was that the villain "needs one tiny, tiny little thing from the boy: three drops of blood." 63 As the first British director in the series, Mike Newell felt that he had the insider expertise necessary to bring an authenticity to the films that they were previously lacking ’ particularly in regards to the British school system: "It wasn't possible for them to get that right. They'd never been to such a school' 64 Newell said, further explaining:

I went through this sort of education. ... I wasn't at a boarding school ... but there's an enormous body of literature books ... and I had read all of those, and I'd been to a school just like it where you were beaten with a cane. I remember some of the teachers being really quite violent ... and it had a headmaster of whom one was likely terrified and then a descending order of authority figures, and then there was... and then there was us. ... I don't see how anybody who hadn't gone through that, who wasn't English, could possibly have suspected that. 65

There are two facets of this quote that require further examination, the first being Newell's view of Hogwarts as being just like all of the typical British boarding schools he never attended. Shaun Hately, author of the essay Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in the Context of the British Public Schools , writes that "Hogwarts is not a perfect exemplar of the Public School tradition ’ while there is a substantial influence, it cannot be assumed that Hogwarts always follows Public School traditions." 66 Further on in the paper, in discussing corporal punishment, Hately demonstrates that "At Hogwarts, such methods seem to have fallen into disuse' 67 citing a quotation from the first book in the Harry Potter series; "Oh yes... Hard work and pain are the best teachers if you ask me... It's just a pity they let the old punishments die out." 68

Additional evidence presents itself in the book from which Newell made his own adaptation, when Professor Moody transfigures a student into a ferret and proceeds to bounce him up and down, catching the attention of Professor McGonagall:

"Moody, we never use Transfiguration as a punishment!" said Professor McGonagall weakly. "Surely Professor Dumbledore told you that?"

"He might've mentioned it, yeah' said Moody, scratching his chin unconcernedly, "but I thought a good sharp shock ”"

"We give detentions, Moody! Or speak to the offender's Head of House!" 69

To J.K. Rowling, the "worst, shabbiest thing you can do" as a teacher "[is] bully children' 70 and corporal punishment has no place in Harry's world. And yet Newell, who admits that even real English schools have changed now, still felt the need to "[rewrite] a scene to add a glint of schoolboy mischievousness and the corporal punishment it provokes, in which dour Professor Snape ... bonks Harry and Ron in the head with a book for goofing off during a study period." 71 Snape does not appear at all in the scene in the shooting script for the film, 72 so it is obvious that this was a directorial decision. His selection is also unfortunate for the fact that his character is not one to be considered slapstick, nor is his hatred of Harry something in which to find comic relief. However, this twisted characterization appears to be a sort of specialty of Newell's, which is the second facet of the previous long quotation in need of examination.

As with the school he runs, Newell has also assigned headmaster Albus Dumbledore to a role in the film that is not in keeping with any other information readily available about him. His idea of Dumbledore as "a headmaster of whom one [is] likely terrified' 73 is directly at odds with J.K. Rowling's assertion that Dumbledore is instead "the epitome of goodness." 74 Indeed, Hately's essay specifies how the character "as presented in the Harry Potter books seems to fit neatly into the mould of the great benevolent public school Headmaster' 75 and as James A. Morone wrote in his article Cultural Phenomena: Dumbledore's Message , "[he] practically awards bonus points for breaking the rules' 76 citing this quotation from Chamber of Secrets as proof: "I seem to remember telling you both that I would have to expel you if you broke any more school rules ... Which goes to show that the best of us must sometimes eat our words." 77

The issue of the character and characterization of Dumbledore is a difficult one for numerous reasons. The choice of actor to play the role is very much tied up in that ’ especially because it was made twice. Richard Harris, a veteran of over seventy films, was initially cast in the role, which he played for the first two films. Critics wrote that his selection "was perfection; he had that twinkle in his eye and he conveyed that Dumbledore was as solid as a rock and as wise as readers of J.K. Rowling knew him to be. There was a certainty about him." 78

However, when Richard Harris passed away shortly before principal photography was to begin on the third film, a new Dumbledore had to be found. Michael Gambon made his Dumbledore debut in Prisoner of Azkaban , and his performance in both it and Goblet of Fire has garnered several comments ’ though, unfortunately, few have been complimentary: "I have to say that I thought Gambon's performance lacked some of the warmth and humour that Harris provided." 79 Newell, on the other hand, thought he was perfect:

I think that he had not wanted to be the same figure that Richard Harris had been, a figure of enormous Olympian authority who's never caught on the hop. He wanted something to do, simply because he isn't Richard Harris, and what he found in this one is that Dumbledore is fallible, not omnipotent, and indeed is behind the game. A great deal of what he does is about being inadequate rather than super-adequate, which is obviously much more interesting to play. 80

More interesting to play, perhaps, but woefully inaccurate. Even leaving aside the fact that if Gambon did not want to be the same figure Richard Harris had been, his decision to take over the role seems suspect; Dumbledore has been known throughout the series for being the only one Voldemort has ever feared. However, as de Forest points out:

for this fear to be plausible, Dumbledore needs to appear sharp-witted and not cross the line from affable eccentric to preposterous crackpot. ... How can [Newell] expect us to believe that anyone in the wizarding world reveres a panicky, absentminded grump who ... impulsively attacks his favourite student, throttling little Harry about the shoulders and neck? 81

And to Newell's argument that a fallible, inadequate, and behind-the-game Dumbledore creates a more interesting and more humanized mentor for Harry, M.Y. Simms asks in her essay Action! Harry Potter from the Page to the Screen :

Why would the greatest wizard in the world suddenly appear to suffer from chronic anxiety? I understand that things got serious in Goblet of Fire, but consider this: would Yoda, Merlin, Gandalf or Obi-Wan have freaked out when things got serious and danger loomed? ... I think not. ... Where did the ˜magic' of Dumbledore go? 82

In fact, far from being behind-the-game, J.K. Rowling's Dumbledore continues to run steadily ahead, even at the end of Goblet of Fire , after Harry's confrontation with Voldemort has already taken place:

"He said that my blood would make him stronger than if he'd used someone else's' Harry told Dumbledore. "... And he was right ” he could touch me without hurting himself, he touched my face."

For a fleeting instant, Harry thought he saw a gleam of something like triumph in Dumbledore's eyes. 83

Unfortunately, one repercussion from Newell's decision to have Gambon portray Dumbledore in this mistaken manner ’ a decision that is proved to be directorial rather than scriptural, due to the calmer version of the character evidenced in the shooting script 84 ’ is more detrimental than having raised the ire of fans; that being the effect it will have on the next installment of the franchise.

One of the main issues that Harry must deal with in the fifth book is his relationship with Dumbledore and how it has, inexplicably (to him), become estranged. This separation, or distance, that Harry feels causes him great distress as he wonders why the headmaster doesn't seem to care about him anymore. This leads to continued misunderstandings which result in the death of a main character and the discovery of a prophecy. Unfortunately, due to the portrayal of these relationships in the fourth movie, Harry would be unlikely to wonder if the headmaster cared about him in the first place, nor would it really matter to him either way. And the revelation given to Harry at the end, that Dumbledore "cared about [him] too much" and did all he had done because he "acted exactly as Voldemort expects [the] fools who love to act' 85 would scarce be believable from Gambon's discredited caricature. Of course, as Newell has not even read the fifth book, his failure to set it up properly is unfortunately explained.

What's not as easily explained is his failure in setting up even his own film, as he did read the fourth book in preparation. 86 As one critic wrote:

If the film version of [Prisoner of Azkaban] was missing some major plot points, and therefore felt like it was missing a vital organ or two, this one was like finding a skeleton that had been stripped of every conceivable scrap of flesh, leaving only the bare bones behind. Many character motivations were fuzzy at best; my mother, who hadn't read the book, had a million questions for me after we left the theatre. 87

But perhaps this weakness can be understood in reading Newell's approach to creating the film, in his own words: "What you do is you pack it with references and suggestions and so forth which, of course, you have taken from the book. So that a reader coming to the film goes, "Oh, I see. I get it. They did it that way." 88 The idea that fans would be appeased by a few references to aspects of the book, no matter what the quality of storytelling, is problematic at best, insulting at worst, and condescending either way. "The movie ticks through critical plot points like it's checking them off a list' 89 writes Anita Burkam in the article From Page to Screen: Mike Newell's Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire ; "All that's missing is reasonably paced and plotted moviemaking." 90 That, and the so-called "human truth" that Newell apparently prized above all else: "You become more interested in [Harry's] interior processes, his emotions, than just what goes on' Newell asserts, 91 though it is difficult to understand why he is convinced of this when he, as director, seems more interested in what he can do with Harry's external world than in how to express the character's internal one. "It's one of the most powerful and dramatic scenes' 92 producer David Heyman says, in praise of Newell's work. And which scene is he talking about? The maze in the third task, which, as Dumbledore mysteriously informs each champion, changes people? The graveyard where Harry watches Voldemort's rebirth, duels with him, and comes face to face with the ghost-like shades of his long-dead parents?

No, of course not, that would make sense . Instead, as Heyman clarifies, "We departed from the book a little bit in the sense that the dragon breaks free of the chain that ties him and it leads to a dramatic chase through Hogwarts. Let's just say it doesn't necessarily meet the happiest of ends." 93 Never mind the fact that, as no one dies and Harry completes the task successfully, it does actually meet the happiest of ends, Heyman is talking about a scene in which Harry faces off with the dragon during the first task of the Triwizard Tournament. This is a scene which takes exactly two pages in the book (which includes the detailed description necessary of the medium), but in the film, it clocks in at nearly three minutes ’ a ridiculously long length of time on screen, particularly for Newell, who has said that "all of [these effects] would count for nothing if [audiences] simply didn't feel it." 94

Yet, as de Forest notes, "when a film jumps wildly from scene to scene, frantically flinging in new characters and situations willy-nilly, the seeds of authentic emotional reaction don't have time to be sown and flourish naturally ... the natural rhythm of reaction is massacred." 95 All of this leads to an ending of equal ruination, in what de Forest terms "a thrown-together mess of a conclusion. It seems unsure whether to end on a hopeful note, a tragic note, a portentous note, a humorous note or a poignant note, so it compromises by fizzling out with a flat uncertainty. ˜Everything's going to change now, isn't it?' asks Hermione. Yup. Sure is. Well. Will you sign my yearbook?" 96

While several critics enjoyed the film ’ and several film audiences, too ’ the question of whether or not Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire was a good film is not the one that is asked in this essay. Instead, the question of whether or not it was a good film of the book must be considered, and while Mike Newell's Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire might be considered a fun, and even wild ride of a film, it remains on the surface, granting only a superficial and distorted glimpse into the story of Harry's fourth year. J.K. Rowling's Dumbledore warned; "You have to make a choice between what is right, and what is easy." 97 It is unfortunate that Mike Newell did not heed this advice.

Harry Potter and the End of This Essay (2007)

"Books have one of the highest ratios of conversion from development to film of any source, including original screenplays' 98 and yet the process of adapting the Harry Potter book series into films is unique in many ways. Perhaps the most important cause of its uniqueness is the fact that the seven book series is being adapted one novel after the other, and yet the seven book series is not yet complete. With the intense secrecy surrounding the story and revelations still to come from the original author, filmmakers must attempt to adapt each of these films from an incomplete overall source text. This only heightens the difficulty and the scrutiny that are already present in the adaptation process. That is why the question of fidelity, though it "cannot be considered a valid yardstick with which to judge any adaptation' 99 must figure in more heavily than it might otherwise. John Tibbetts and James Welsh wrote that "movies do not ˜ruin' books, but merely misrepresent them' 100 as "the accumulation of minor details can create a markedly different experience between a book and a film' 101 and while usually that may not create any problems, Mike Newell's Dumbledore aptly demonstrates that in an ongoing ’ and unfinished ’ series, certain changes have far-reaching effects.

Still, while fidelity holds more importance in this case than in others, "changes made by the screenwriter and director might not necessarily destroy the original. In the best adaptations, narratives are translated and effectively transformed into the medium of film." 102 With the seventh, and last, Harry Potter novel being released this summer, perhaps the remaining films will have a better chance of achieving this transformation.

Mireia Aragay writes in Reflection to Refraction: Adaptation Studies Then and Now , that the real aim of adaptation is

to trade upon the memory of the novel, a memory that can derive from actual reading, or, as is more likely with a classic of literature, a generally circulated cultural memory. The adaptation consumes this memory, aiming to efface it with the presence of its own images. The successful adaptation is the one that is able to replace the memory of the novel. 103

Although Harry Potter is not widely considered a classic of literature, the same philosophy can apply. An adaptation must be more than a filmed novel, without compromising the text it is meant to represent. A good film does not make a good adaptation, and though the Harry Potter film series had a promising start, future directors would do well to keep those words in mind. Notes 1. Cartmell, "Shakespeare on Screen' 33.

2. Tibbetts and Welsh, Novels Into Film , 279.

3. Havens, Genius Behind Buffy , 24.

4. Elrick, "Chris Columbus talks¦."

5. McNamara, "When Steve Met Harry."

6. Elrick, "Chris Columbus talks¦."

7. Hopkins, "Behind the Scenes¦."

8. McNamara, "When Steve Met Harry."

9. Vander Ark, "The Ages of Snape and the Marauders."

10. Rowling, Philosopher's Stone , 102.

11. Millman, "To Sir, With Love' 43.

12. Rowling, "Edinburgh Book Festival."

13. Scholastic editor Arthur Levine, suggested that Rowling change the title of the book for its American release as he felt it was "too esoteric' and the change would convey "more immediately the sense of magic that's in the book" (Heiberger). This, despite the fact that the Philosopher's Stone is an object of legend, often found in myth and folklore (Anderson), and referred to in many areas of study, including religion, alchemy, the occult ¦ while the Sorcerer's Stone means nothing.

14. Hennigan, "Films ¦ Philosopher's Stone ."

15. Krevolin, How to Adapt¦ , 52.

16. Aragay, "Reflection to Refraction' 20.

17. Cartmell and Whelehan, "Fidelity Debate' 37.

18. Ebert, "Sorcerer's Stone."

19. Kloves, Sorcerer's Stone, 22.

20. Ibid., 43.

21. Ibid., 55-56.

22. Krevolin, How to Adapt¦ , 54.

23. Gupta, Re-Reading Harry Potter , 143.

24. Nel, "Bewitched, Bothered, and Bored."

25. Mzimba, "Conversation with¦."

26. Nel, "Bewitched, Bothered, and Bored."

27. Butler, " Potter has the stuff¦."

28. Spelling, "Leaving School' 44.

29. Elrick, "Chris Columbus talks¦."

30. Spelling, "Leaving School' 44.

31. "Y tu Harry¦' 22.

32. Ibid, 19.

34. Spelling, "Leaving School' 44.

35. Puig, "Harry hits his teens."

36. Nazarro, "The New Magician' 39.

37. Puig, "Harry hits his teens."

38. Nazarro, "The New Magician' 38.

39. Trout, "Alfonso Cuarón Interview."

40. de Forest, "Fractured Fairy Tale."

41. Turan, "Prisoner of Azkaban."

42. Nazarro, "Alfonso Cuarón Interview."

43. Z, "Elegantly Woven Tapestry."

45. Rowling, Prisoner of Azkaban , 257-68.

46. Z, "Elegantly Woven Tapestry."

47. Kelly Parker, e-mail message to author, 12 April 2007.

48. Puig, "Harry hits his teens."

49. Rowling, Prisoner of Azkaban , 152.

50. Ibid., 271.

51. Kloves, Prisoner of Azkaban .

52. Rowling, Prisoner of Azkaban , 261.

53. Ibid., 286.

54. Ibid., 213.

55. Kloves, Prisoner of Azkaban , 80.

56. Rowling, Prisoner of Azkaban , 259-60.

57. Nazarro, "The New Magician' 38.

58. Kloves, Prisoner of Azkaban , 125.

59. Fischer, "Exclusive Interview."

61. Geri, "News: Mike Newell¦."

62. Fischer, "Exclusive Interview."

63. Ibid., "Interview: Mike Newell."

64. Associated Press, "Newell puts the Brit¦."

65. Fischer, "Exclusive Interview."

66. Hately, "Hogwarts School of¦."

68. Rowling, Philosopher's Stone , 181.

69. Ibid., Goblet of Fire , 182.

70. Fraser, Conversations with J.K. Rowling , 21.

71. Associated Press, "Newell puts the Brit¦."

72. Kloves, Goblet of Fire , 66-67.

73. Fischer, "Exclusive Interview."

74. Solomon, "J.K. Rowling Interview."

75. Hately, "Hogwarts School of¦."

76. Morone, "Cultural Phenomena."

77. Rowling, Chamber of Secrets , 243.

78. Simms, "Action! Harry Potter¦."

79. Aloi, "Grown Up Magic."

80. Whitehead, "Interview: Mike Newell¦."

81. Witherwings, "Fractured Fairy Tale."

82. Simms, "Action! Harry Potter¦."

83. Rowling, Goblet of Fire , 604.

84. Kloves, Goblet of Fire , 32.

85. Rowling, Order of the Phoenix , 739.

86. Fischer, "Exclusive Interview."

87. Moondaughter, "Under the Microscope."

88. Geri, "Newell discusses¦."

89. Burkam, "From Page to Screen."

92. Geri, "Update: Heyman talks¦."

94. Nathan, "This boy¦' 90.

95. Witherwings, "Fractured Fairy Tale."

97. Rowling, Goblet of Fire , 628.

98. Hopkins, "Behind the Scenes¦."

99. Aragay, "Reflection to Refraction' 20.

100. Tibbetts and Welsh, Novels Into Film , xvii.

101. Nel, "Bewitched, Bothered, and Bored."

102. Tibbetts and Welsh, Novels Into Film , xx.

103. Aragay, "Reflection to Refraction' 20.

Bibliography

Aloi, Peg. "Grown Up Magic." Witch Cinema 19, 5 June 2004. http://www.witchvox.com/va/dt_article.html?a=usma&id=8491 .

Anderson, Hans Christian. "The Philosopher's Stone (1859)." Hans Christian Anderson: Fairy Tales and Stories . 25 September 2006: http://hca.gilead.org.il/p_stone.html .

Aragay, Mireia. "Reflection to Refraction: Adaptation Studies Then and Now." Books in Motion: Adaptation, Intertextuality, Authorship . Ed. Mireia Aragay. Amsterdam: Rodopi, 2005. 11-34.

Associated Press. "Newell puts the Brit back in Harry Potter ." MSNBC , 21 November 2005. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10054009 .

Burkam, Anita L. "From Page to Screen: Mike Newell's Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire." The Horn Book, Inc . http://www.hbook.com/resources/films/harrypotter4.asp .

Butler, Robert W. " Potter has the stuff but not the spirit." The Kansas City Star . 23 November 2001.

Cartmell, Deborah. "The Shakespeare On Screen Industry." Adaptations: From Text to Screen, Screen to Text . Eds. Deborah Cartmell and Imelda Whelehan. London: Routledge, 1999. 29-37.

Cartmell, Deborah and Whelehan, Imelda. "Harry Potter and the Fidelity Debate." Books in Motion: Adaptation, Intertextuality, Authorship . Ed. Mireia Aragay. Amsterdam: Rodopi, 2005. 37-49.

Ebert, Roger. "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone." RogerEbert.com: Movie Reviews , 16 November 2001. http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20011116/REVIEWS/111160301/1023 .

Elrick, Ted. "Chris Columbus talks about directing Harry Potter ." DGA Magazine: Directors Guild of America 27:5, January 2003. http://www.dga.org/news/v27_5/feat_columbus.php3 .

Fischer, Paul. "Exclusive Interview: Mike Newell for Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire ." Dark Horizons 24, October 2005). http://www.darkhorizons.com/news05/goblet1.php .

”””. "Interview: Mike Newell for Mona Lisa Smile and Harry Potter 4 ." Dark Horizons 9, December 2003. http://www.darkhorizons.com/news03/mona2.php .

Fraser, Lindsey. Conversations with J.K. Rowling . New York: Scholastic Press, 2001.

Geri. "Newell discusses the challenges of ˜ Harry Potter '." HPANA , 30 November 2004. http://www.hpana.com/news.18430.html .

”””. "News: Mike Newell won't split ˜ Goblet of Fire '." HPANA , 30 January 2004. http://www.hpana.com/news.17863.26.html .

”””. "Update: Heyman talks about first task and Fiennes." HPANA , 11 Oct. 2005. http://www.hpana.com/news.18913.html .

Gupta, Suman. Re-Reading Harry Potter . New York: Palgrave MacMillan, 2003.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets . Directed by Christopher Columbus. Burbank: Warner Bros. Pictures, 2002.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire . Directed by Mike Newell. Burbank: Warner Bros. Pictures, 2005.

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone . Directed by Chris Columbus. Burbank: Warner Bros. Pictures, 2001.

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban . Directed by Alfonso Cuarón. Burbank: Warner Bros. Pictures, 2004.

Hately, Shaun. "Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in the Context of the British Public Schools." HP InkPot , 13 December 2005. http://www.fictionalley.org/authors/shaun_hately/HSOWAWATBPS01.html .

Havens, Candace. Joss Whedon: The Genius Behind Buffy . Dallas: BenBella Books, 2003.

Heiberger, Sara. "Harry Potter and the Editor's Pen." Brown Alumni Magazine Online , November/December 2001. http://www.brownalumnimagazine.com/storydetail.cfm?ID=421 .

Harry Potter Archive

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Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets Reviews

...a watchable (and impressively faithful) adaptation that never quite becomes as captivating or engrossing as one might've hoped...

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/4 | Nov 25, 2021

Rather than better or worse, the films were almost an extension of the books, wonderfully bringing to life JK Rowling's fantastical Wizarding World as the definitive franchise an entire generation grew up with.

Full Review | Oct 27, 2020

This time around, the humor and family-friendly fun can't overcome the annoying supporting characters and repetition from the previous picture.

Full Review | Original Score: 5/10 | Sep 29, 2020

Brilliant stuff.

Full Review | Original Score: 4.5/5 | Jun 18, 2020

At 162 minutes, this sounds like a long film, but the time passes quickly...almost too quickly. A technical and visual masterpiece.

Full Review | Nov 13, 2019

Good film directed for a teenage audience in which not only is magic taught but also how stereotypes affect it while the film itself recreates some British stereotypes. [Review in Spanish]

Full Review | Original Score: 3.5/5 | Jul 11, 2019

This time, the adventures of the world's most famous young wizard come mixed with a stiff dose of the menacing.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/4 | Jan 4, 2019

Director David Yates deals with this change of tone skillfully.

Full Review | Oct 3, 2018

Director Chris Columbus has pushed the envelope farther, made a sequel that is pacier and more swashbuckling. Yet it still feels cautious and reined-in.

Full Review | Dec 6, 2014

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets is darker, funnier and finer than its forerunner Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone.

Chamber Of Secrets is funnier and more exciting than the first Harry Potter movie, and adorned with some of the most stunning special effects ever.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets isn't perfect, but it's everything it should be: fun, exciting, humorous and stirring.

Have no fear, you legions of Potter fans: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets is a solid step forward in the movie adaptations of J.K. Rowling's much-read novels.

Full Review | Original Score: 3.5/4 | Dec 6, 2014

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets is good enough to satisfy hard-core fans, even if it falls short of being truly transporting moviemaking.

Columbus' pacing is still murderously slow, his ideas as pedestrian as the worst TV.

Apart from a rather pointless cameo from Kenneth Branagh and a rather peaky-looking Richard Harris, in truth there was nothing in HP2 that we hadn't already seen in HP1.

Despite its sophomoric awkwardness, the Chamber of Secrets is a welcome delivery of childlike wonder for a planet of ever- increasing ugliness.

Although it's unlikely to make converts of the uninitiated, fans of the series and its characters will find the movie to be a worthy entry.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/4 | Dec 6, 2014

It appears that the production has learned from its mistakes and managed to put together the kind of film that deserves to be a part of young adult film folklore for generations to come.

This new Harry Potter has its flaws, but it's better, as well as darker, than the first.

Full Review | Nov 26, 2013

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Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

By j.k. rowling.

• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets Summary

Harry Potter , a young wizard, is home from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry for the summer. He lives with his Aunt Petunia, Uncle Vernon, and cousin Dudley Dursley . The Dursleys are what wizards call Muggles, meaning that they have no magical powers. They are afraid of what Harry might do to them, and so restrict him from mentioning the word magic and lock up his messenger owl Hedwig so he can’t send letters to his school friends. Harry is very lonely. This is his twelfth birthday, and everyone seems to have forgotten. He hasn’t heard from his best friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger . The Durselys are focused on a dinner party with the Masons they have planned that evening to promote Mr. Dursley's business. Uncle Vernon orders Harry to stay in his room all evening and make no noise. Sitting in the garden glumly, Harry sees two enormous green eyes staring at him from the hedge. After Dudley taunts him, Harry pretends to cast a spell, for which Aunt Petunia punishes him with yard work. Then she feeds him minimally, while she prepares a feast for the Masons, and sends him to his room.

Harry discovers a little creature with bat-like ears and large eyes sitting on his bed, who identifies himself as Dobby the house-elf. Harry realizes that this is who was peering out at him from the hedge that afternoon. When Harry asks Dobby to sit down, the elf wails loudly in gratitude. He has never been asked to sit down by a wizard. While he speaks to Harry he violently and noisily punishes himself for betraying the wizard family he serves. The house-elf must constantly punish himself at home too, but can only leave if his master sets him free. When Harry asks if he can help, Dobby is overwhelmed with appreciation. Dobby has come to protect Harry by warning him not to go to Hogwarts. Harry tries desperately to keep the Dobby quiet. But all of the noise draws mean Uncle Vernon upstairs. Harry manages to hide the elf just in time. Harry discovers that Dobby has been stealing letters from Harry’s friends, hoping to dissuade him from returning to school. Dobby demands that Harry promise not to go back to Hogwarts. When Harry refuses, Dobby runs to the kitchen and levitates Aunt Petunia’s pudding, threatening to drop it. Harry says no, so he drops the pudding with a crash and disappears, disrupting the dinner party. Then an owl delivers a letter to Harry from the Ministry of Magic warning him that as an underage wizard, he is not permitted to perform magic outside of school, mistaking Dobby’s magic for Harry’s. The owl delivers the letter onto Mrs. Mason’s head, causing her to run screaming from the house. The Durselys didn’t know until the letter that Harry wasn’t allowed to perform magic outside of school. They are no longer afraid of him. Enraged, Uncle Vernon imprisons Harry in his room, installing bars on his window and a cat flap through which they feed Harry only cold soup. He sees no means of escape.

After three days of misery, Harry awakens to see his friend Ron Weasley’s face outside of his window. Ron and his brothers, the twins Fred and George, rescue Harry in a car that their father enchanted to fly. They take him home to the Burrow. Mrs. Weasley yells at her sons for stealing the car, pointing out that they could have died, been seen, or caused their father to lose his job. Though angry, she is also kind, feeding everyone a big breakfast. Ron’s sister Ginny appears briefly and then runs away. Ron says that Ginny has been talking about Harry all summer. Mrs. Weasley orders her sons to degnome the garden. Harry joins in. Mr. Weasley returns home from a night of raids in his job in the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts office at the Ministry of Magic. Unlike his wife, he seems pleased that the boys flew his car. Ron shows Harry his room, self-conscious. Harry tells him it's the best house he has ever been in.

Harry enjoys his holiday with the Weasleys at the Burrow. They receive their letters with instructions for the new school year, including a long list of required textbooks by Gilderoy Lockhart. The Weasleys' owl delivers a message from Hermione Granger, who is excited to meet up with them in London to purchase their school supplies in Diagon Alley. Fred and George notice that their older brother Percy has been sending a lot of mysterious letters.

The Weasleys and Harry travel to London via Floo powder, which they throw into their fireplace to teleport them to another destination on the Floo Network. Because this is Harry’s first time traveling via Floo powder, he gets lost, winding up in the unsavory shop Borgin and Burkes in Knockturn Alley. While hiding, Harry sees his school rival Draco Malloy come into the shop with his father. He observes Lucius Malfoy arrange to sell items that would “embarrass” him if the Ministry of Magic raids his house. Malfoy says that there are rumors about a new Muggle Protection Act, likely the work of Authur Weasley. Lucius admonishes his son for getting worse grades than Hermione, who comes from a Muggle family. Harry runs into his friend Hagrid, the Hogwarts gamekeeper, in Knockturn alley, then is reunited with the Weasleys and the Grangers.

Harry and the Weasleys visit Gringotts bank to retrieve wizard money. Goblins lead them via carts running on tracks through underground tunnels to their vaults. Harry feels bad about his wealth, which he inherited from his parents, relative to the Weasleys’ poverty. In the shop Flourish and Blotts in Diagon Alley they discover a crowd waiting to meet Gilderoy Lockhart at his book signing. Lockhart pulls Harry to the front of the line and makes a show of shaking his hand for the photographer. Then he announces that he will be taking up the post of Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher at Hogwarts in the fall. When Lucius Malloy insults his family, Arthur Weasley throws himself at Malfoy, knocking over Ginny’s cauldron and a shelf full of books. Hagrid breaks up the fight, pulling the two men apart. Lucius Malfoy thrusts Ginny’s transfiguration textbook at her, “his eyes glittering with malice.”

When the day arrives to travel to Hogwarts, the Weasleys and Harry rush to King's Cross Station to catch the Hogwarts Express. To get to platform nine and three-quarters, they have to run through the solid barrier dividing platforms nine and ten without being seen disappearing by Muggles. After the rest of the family gets through, Ron and Harry run last towards the barrier. But it remains solid, so they crash into it conspicuously and then miss the train. Ron convinces Harry that they should fly his father’s car to Hogwarts. On the way there, the car’s invisibility booster fails. When they reach Hogwarts castle, they crash into a tree. The tree they hit attacks them back. Ron’s wand breaks. The car moves them to safety then ejects them and their luggage, and finally disappears into the woods. They observe part of the Sorting Ceremony through the window, in which Hogwarts students are assigned one of four houses (Gryffindor, Slytherin, Hufflepuff, or Ravenclaw) by wearing the Sorting Hat.

Professor Severus Snape discovers Harry and Ron and leads them to his office. He shows them a newspaper headline: "FLYING FORD ANGLIA MYSTIFIES MUGGLES” and promises them that they will be expelled. But Professor McGonagall assigns Harry and Ron detention as punishment. Dumbledore warns Harry and Ron that if they break any school rules again, he will have no choice but to expel them. When Hermione learns that Harry and Ron flew the car to school and crashed it into the Whomping Willow she disapproves. But the rest of their fellow students in Gryffindor House cheer their dramatic entrance.

At breakfast the next morning the Weasleys’ ancient owl Errol delivers a Howler to Ron from Mrs. Weasley. She is furious that they stole the car. It was seen and now Mr. Weasley faces an inquiry at work. Harry attends his first day of classes. On his way to Herbology Gilderoy Lockhart pulls Harry aside to talk about crashing the flying car into the tree, which he assumes Harry did to get attention. In the greenhouse, Professor Sprout teaches her students how to repot Mandrakes. The cry of the Mandrake is fatal to anyone who hears it, so they all put on earmuffs. Hermione explains that Mandrakes can restore people who have been transfigured back to their original state. Harry meets fellow student Justin Finch-Fletchly, who says that he almost went to Eton, an upper-class Muggle school. In Transfiguration class with Professor McGonagall, Ron struggles with his broken wand and discovers that Hermione has outlined all of Lockhart’s lessons with hearts. Colin Creevy, a first-year Gryffindor student, approaches Harry in the hall with a camera, star-struck by his fame, wanting his picture and autograph. Professor Lockhart begins his class with a quiz all about himself. Then he causes pandemonium in the classroom by releasing Cornish pixies.

Oliver Wood , Captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team, wakes Harry up early, eager to begin training. But the Slytherin team shows up on the field with a note of permission from Snape to train their new Seeker, Draco Malfoy . His father Lucius Malfoy has gifted the team the newest broomsticks. When Draco makes fun of the Weasley brothers’ old broomsticks, Hermione defends the Gryffindor team members for succeeding based on talent, instead of buying their way in like Draco. Draco retorts, “No one asked your opinion, you filthy little Mudblood.” which causes an uproar. Ron tries to attack Malfoy, but his broken wand backfires, and hits him in the stomach, causing Ron to belch slugs. Harry and Hermione help Ron to Hagrid’s nearby cottage, where they discuss the meaning of the slur “Mudblood.” Hagrid mentions a recent visit from Ginny Weasley .

That evening Harry spends his time in detention by addressing envelopes for Gilderoy Lockhart. While in Lockhart’s office he hears a venomous voice threatening to kill. Lockhart doesn’t hear the voice. Back in their dorm, Harry tells Ron about the voice, while Ron tells Harry about his detention polishing school awards.

On his way in from Quidditch practice on a rainy morning, Harry commiserates with Nearly Headless Nick . Harry is worried about a rumor that the Slytherin team’s new broomsticks are extremely fast. Nick is upset because Sir Patrick Delaney-Podmore has disqualified him from the Headless Hunt for not having a completely decapitated head. After finding that Harry has tracked in mud, Hogwarts caretaker Filch demands that Harry follow him to his office. They are interrupted by a crash from Peeves the Poltergeist . While Harry waits for Filch to return, he reads mail on Filch’s desk titled “Kwikspell: A Correspondence Course in Beginner’s Magic.” When Filch sees that Harry has read his mail, he is embarrassed and distraught and lets him go without punishment. Grateful when he finds out that Nearly Headless Nick persuaded Peeves to distract Filch, Harry wonders if he can help him in return. Nick asks Harry to attend his deathday party on Halloween and convince Sir Patrick that he finds Nick very frightening.

Harry, Hermione, and Ron go to Nick’s deathday party in the dungeon on Halloween. Hermione tries unsuccessfully to avoid Moaning Myrtle , a ghost who haunts one of the toilets in the girls' bathroom on the first floor. Sir Patrick interrupts Nick’s speech by bursting through the dungeon wall with a team of ghost horses, belittles him and steals the attention of the crowd by playing games with his decapitated head. He is unconvinced by Harry’s claim to find Nick frightening. The three friends leave the party hoping to catch the end of the school feast. On their way up Harry hears the murderous voice that he heard in Lockhart’s office again, sounding like it is moving upward. Following the voice, he runs up the stairs. Ron and Hermione, confused, follow him. When they reach a deserted passage on the third floor, they discover foot-high words written on the wall: “THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS HAS BEEN OPENED. ENEMIES OF THE HEIR, BEWARE.” Harry almost slips on a large puddle of water on the floor. They find Mrs. Norris , Filch’s cat, hanging by her tail. The other students arrive at the corridor from both ends. Draco Malfoy shouts “Enemies of the Heir, beware! You’ll be next, Mudbloods!” Filch accuses Harry of killing his cat.

Dumbledore gathers Filch, Harry, Ron, Hermione, McGonagall, and Snape in Lockhart’s office and examines Mrs. Norris. He tells Filch that she is not dead but petrified. When Filch blames Harry again, Dumbledore replies that the Dark Magic required is too advanced for a second-year student. Filch maintains that Harry did it to threaten him because he knows he is a Squib. Harry replies that he didn’t touch Mrs. Norris, and that he doesn’t know what a Squib is. Snape wants to know why they didn’t join the feast and why they went up to the third-floor corridor. Harry thinks that the truth would sound too far-fetched, so he lies. Dumbledore promises that the Mandrake potion will cure Mrs. Norris once the Mandrakes are fully mature.

Ron explains to Harry that a Squib is a person born to a wizard family, but who has no magical powers. Justin Finch-Fletchly avoids Harry. Ginny Weasley is particularly upset by the death of Mrs. Norris.

In history class, Hermione asks Professor Binns about the Chamber of Secrets. He relates that Hogwarts was founded over a thousand years ago by Godric Gryffindor , Helga Hufflepuff, Rowena Ravenclaw, and Salazar Slytherin . Eventually, a rift developed between Salazar Slytherin and the others. He wanted to limit Hogwarts admissions to children from wizard families because he distrusted Muggle-born students. After a serious argument, Slytherin left the school. Binns says that’s a far as the facts go. The legend of the Chamber of Secrets says that Salazar Slytherin built a hidden chamber in the castle and sealed it so that it could only be opened by his own true heir to unleash the “horror within” and purge the school of everyone unworthy to study magic.

Harry feels uneasy about the legend of the Heir of Slytherin because the Sorting Hat considered placing him in Slytherin House his first year at Hogwarts.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione decide to search for clues in the corridor where the attack occurred. They discover scorch marks on the floor. Hermione notices spiders hurrying to get outside. Ron admits that he is frightened of spiders because of a traumatic childhood experience. Harry remembers that there was a lot of water on the floor the night of the attack and figures it must have been from the nearby girls’ bathroom. They go in to check it out, and wind up talking to Moaning Myrtle, but she is too self-involved to notice anything helpful. Percy Weasley discovers them leaving the bathroom and is furious at them for breaking school rules. He uses his powers as a Prefect to discipline them by taking points from Gryffindor house.

Ron thinks that Draco Malfoy is the Heir of Slytherin; Hermione is skeptical. She proposes that they make Polyjuice potion to transform themselves into three Slytherin students to get into the Slytherin common room and ask Malfoy questions.

Hermione gets Lockhart to sign a note allowing her to check the book with the Polyjuice potion recipe out of the Restricted Section of the library. The three friends barricade themselves in Moaning Myrtle’s out-of-order bathroom. They discover that the Polyjuice potion recipe is very complex. Ron is disgusted by the thought of drinking it. Harry is worried about how much they will have to steal. Hermione becomes angry. She is uncharacteristically willing to break the rules because Squibs and Muggle-Borns, such as herself, are being threatened. Ron and Harry agree to go through with her plan.

During the next Quidditch match, a rogue Bludger tries to knock Harry out of the air while the Slytherins’ superior brooms allow them to rack up points. Fred and George Weasley try to defend Harry from the Bludger. Harry convinces Oliver Wood to let him deal with the Bludger on his own while trying to catch the Golden Snitch. When Harry sees the Snitch hovering inches above Malfoy’s ear, he pauses for a moment, which allows the Bludger to smash into his elbow, breaking his arm. Harry catches the Snitch, winning the game, and then plummets to the ground. In attempting to mend his broken arm bones, Lockhart removes them instead.

In the infirmary, the school nurse Madam Pomfrey gives Harry Skele-gro to regrow his bones and orders his friends to leave so he can rest. Harry wakes up feeling someone sponging his forehead in the dark. It’s Dobby. When Harry asks Dobby why he wears a pillowcase, the elf explains that it’s a mark of his enslavement. He can only be freed if his masters present him with clothes, so they are careful not to pass him even a sock. Harry discovers that Dobby both sealed the barrier to the Hogwarts Express and enchanted the Bludger to injure Harry so he would be sent home. Dobby tells him that terrible things are going to happen, and are perhaps happening already. He explains that Harry’s defeat of Lord Voldemort meant a great deal to the lowest creatures of the wizard world. He insists that he cannot let Harry stay at Hogwarts now that the Chamber of Secrets is open once more. Dumbledore and McGonagall carry what looks like a statue into the infirmary. They explain to Madame Pomfrey that they found Colin Creevey on the stairs, holding his camera, petrified.

The next day, the news that Colin was attacked spreads through the school, creating an atmosphere of suspicion and fear. In Snape’s potions class, Harry lobs a firework into a cauldron, showering the students with Swelling Solution. During the confusion, Hermione slips into Snape’s office and steals ingredients for the Polyjuice potion.

Gilderoy Lockhart initiates a new Dueling Club for Hogwarts students. When he and Snape demonstrate how to duel with their wands, Snape blasts Lockhart backward off the stage, smashing him against the wall. Snape places Harry with Draco in a dueling pair. Although Lockhart instructs them to disarm each other only, their duel escalates. Malfoy conjures a snake, which raises itself, ready to strike Harry. Snape tells Harry that he will get rid of it. But Lockhart interferes, casting a spell that causes the snake to fly ten feet into the air and fall to the floor loudly. When the snake starts to strike Justin Finch-Fletchley , Harry runs forward shouting for it to leave him alone, which it does. Harry grins at Justin, and is surprised to find him angry and scared. Justin storms out of the hall. Snape makes the snake vanish. Harry hears an ominous muttering in the walls.

As Ron and Hermione hurry Harry out of the hall, the other students draw away from him. Harry is bewildered. Ron asks why Harry didn’t tell them that he’s a Parselmouth. Harry doesn’t know what he’s talking about, so Ron explains that it means he can talk to snakes, which is an uncommon gift, and that this is bad. Harry feels angry and misunderstood. He told the snake not to attack Justin. But the other students don’t speak the language, so they assume the opposite. Hermione points out that Salazar Slytherin was known for speaking Parseltongue, so this could mean that Harry is the Heir of Slytherin. Harry lies awake that night worrying that he could be the heir. He isn’t sure because he doesn’t know anything about his father’s family.

The next day Harry goes to look for Justin to explain that he was protecting him from the snake. In the library, he overhears Ernie McMillan argue to other Hufflepuff students that Harry is Slytherin’s heir. Ernie says that Justin is hiding in their dorm from Harry, afraid because he told Harry that he was Muggle-born. Harry confronts Ernie. They argue about what happened at the dueling club.

Harry, furious, runs into Hagrid, who shows him a dead rooster and says it’s the second killed this term. Then Harry trips over Justin Finch-Fletchley lying on the floor, petrified. Nearly Headless Nick floats next to him, oddly black and smokey, as opposed to his usual white transparent appearance. They both look shocked. Harry sees a line of spiders scuttling away from the bodies. When Peeves starts screaming about the attack, students flood into the corridor causing confusion. McGonagall restores order. Ernie points his finger dramatically at Harry, and yells “Caught in the act!”

McGonagall leads Harry up to Dumbledore's office and tells him to wait. Harry discovers the Sorting Hat and puts it on his head. The Sorting Hat says that Harry was difficult to place, but he stands by what he said, that Harry would have done well in Slytherin. Harry grabs the hat off of his head before it can finish, saying “You’re wrong.” To Harry’s shock, he sees a bird burst into flames, then disintegrate into a smoking pile of ash. When Dumbledore enters, he explains that this is Fawkes , his pet phoenix, who regularly burns and is reborn. Harry sees a baby bird in the pile of ash. Hagrid barges into the office to rush to Harry’s defense. Dumbledore stops him, saying he doesn’t think Harry attacked Justin and Nick. After Hagrid leaves, he asks Harry if there’s anything at all he wants to tell him. Harry thinks of all of his troubles and then tells Dumbledore no, there isn’t anything.

The attack on Justin and Nearly Headless Nick sends Hogwarts into a panic. Fred and George make a joke of Harry’s new pariah status. The term ends and many students return home for the holidays. On Christmas morning, Hermione wakes up Harry and Ron early with presents and the news that the Polyjuice potion is ready.

Everyone at Hogwarts enjoys Christmas dinner. Then Harry, Ron, and Hermione execute their Polyjuice potion plan. They leave out drugged chocolate cake for Crabbe and Goyle. When Draco’s two henchmen eat the cake and pass out, Harry and Ron drag them to the closet, pull out their hair, steal their shoes, and then sprint up to Moaning Myrtle’s bathroom.

Hermione, Harry, and Ron each take separate stalls and drink the Polyjuice potion. Harry transforms into Goyle and Ron into Crabbe. Hermione intends to transform into Millicent Blustrode, but says from her stall that she’s not going to join them after all. Harry and Ron sneak down to the Slytherin dungeons and, oddly, find Percy there. In the Slytherin common room, they speak with Draco Malfoy while disguised as Crabbe and Goyle. Draco shows them a newspaper clipping, which he finds funny, that says that Mr. Weasley was fined for enchanting his car. Harry and Ron are disappointed to discover that Draco is not the Heir of Slytherin and doesn’t know who it is, although he says he wishes he did so he could help. Draco does know a bit about the last time the Chamber was opened fifty years before. He says that a Muggle-born student died. And whoever opened the Chamber was caught and expelled. He relays that the Ministry of Magic raided their family manor last week, but didn’t find much because his father’s Dark Arts valuables are hidden under their drawing-room floor.

As they transform back into themselves, Harry and Ron rush back to Myrtle’s bathroom. They find Hermione distraught because she has partially transformed into a cat. She put Micent Blustrode’s cat’s hair into her potion by mistake. Since the potion isn’t supposed to be used for non-human transformations, she has lingering cat characteristics.

Hermione remains in the hospital for several weeks while she recovers. Ron and Harry visit her often. One night when they are walking back from the hospital, they hear Filch furious because someone has flooded the corridor where the attack took place. They go to investigate and find that the water seems like it’s coming from Moaning Myrtle’s bathroom. Myrtle is wailing even louder than usual because someone threw a book at her. When Harry goes to pick up the book, Ron stops him, warning that it could be dangerous, and relates his father’s stories of books that the Ministry of Magic has confiscated. Harry ducks around Ron to pick it up. The book is a fifty-year-old diary with the name T.M. Riddle written inside. Ron recognizes the name as a student who got a special award for services to the school fifty years ago. Filch made Ron polish Riddle’s shield repeatedly in detention. Harry is disappointed to find that the diary is blank. He doesn’t throw the diary away because he feels as though it were a story he wants to finish. The name T.M. Riddle also feels like it means something to him.

Gilderoy Lockhart decides to boost the morale of the school by throwing a Valentine’s Day celebration. This does not go over well with the staff or students. A dwarf dressed as Cupid catches up with Harry in between classes and tries to deliver a musical Valentine. Harry attempts to escape, embarrassed. In the struggle, Harry’s bag rips. His ink bottle smashes, spilling ink over everything. Draco and Percy appear in the commotion. When Harry tries to run, the dwarf knocks him over and sits on him before singing him his Valentine. Draco picks up Riddle’s diary, thinking it’s Harry’s own. Ginny looks from the diary to Harry, looking terrified. Percy demands that Draco hand it over, but Draco continues to taunt Harry with it. Harry pulls out his wand and shouts “Expelliarmus!” The diary shoots out of Draco hands and Ron catches it. Percy admonishes Harry for doing magic in the corridors, but Harry doesn’t care. Draco teases Ginny for giving Harry the Valentine. Ginny covers her face with her hands and runs into class. Harry notices that the diary, which should be covered in ink, looks unblemished.

That evening Harry experiments with the diary. When he drops ink onto the page it shines brightly and then vanishes. He writes “My name is Harry Potter” and the diary replies, “Hello, Harry Potter. My name is Tom Riddle. How did you come by my diary?” Harry and Tom converse through the diary. Riddle reveals that in his fifth year as a Hogwarts student, the Chamber of Secrets was opened and the monster attacked several students, killing one. He says that he caught the person who opened the Chamber, who was then expelled. The headmaster, Professor Dippett, covered up the incident. But he knew it could happen again because the monster lived on, and the one who had the power to release it was not imprisoned.

Harry is able to enter into the diary. He finds himself invisible in Dumbledore’s office, fifty years ago when Armando Dippett was headmaster. Tom Riddle enters. He wants to stay at Hogwarts over the summer holidays rather than returning to a Muggle orphanage. Dippet says that because of the recent attacks, and death of the girl, he can’t allow him to stay at Hogwarts when the term ends. The Ministry of Magic is talking about closing the school. Dippett asks if Riddle knows anything about these attacks. Riddle replies no. Harry recognizes this as the same type of "no" that Harry had given Dumbledore.

When Tom leaves the room, Harry follows him. Riddle runs into a fifty-year-younger Dumbledore, who tells him to hurry to bed. He continues on to the dungeons. When someone creeps along the passage Tom and Harry follow until they hear whispering and a door creaking. Riddle jumps around the corner. Harry steps out and sees a huge boy crouching in front of an open door with a large box. Tom addresses the boy as Rubeus and tells him that he will have to turn him in. He says that he doesn’t think that he meant to kill anyone, but that monsters don’t make good pets. Rubeus replies that it never killed anyone. Riddle draws out his wand and casts a spell that fills the corridor with light and forces the door open, throwing Rubeus against the wall. A large monster comes out, horrifying Harry and knocking down Riddle. When Riddle tries again, Rubeus leaps on him and seizes his wand. Harry falls out of the scene and back onto his bed with a crash. He tells Ron that Hagrid opened the Chamber of Secrets fifty years ago.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione decide not to say anything to Hagrid unless there is another attack. Neville Longbottom discovers that someone ransacked Harry’s things. Harry realizes that Riddle’s diary is gone.

On his way to a Quidditch match, Harry hears the mysterious murderous voice again. Ron and Hermione can’t hear it. Hermione exclaims that she has just understood something, and runs away to the library. Harry is just mounting his broom when McGonagall cancels the match. She leads Harry and Ron to the infirmary, explaining that there has been another double attack: Penelope, a girl from Ravenclaw house, and Hermione. They were found near the library with a small circular mirror on the floor next to them. McGonagall escorts them back to Gryffindor Tower. She addresses the students, reading new restrictions: All students must return to their house common rooms by six PM, and cannot leave their dorms after that. Teachers will escort students to classes and the bathroom. Quidditch training and matches are postponed. All evening activities are canceled. She adds that it is likely that Hogwarts will be closed unless the culprit behind the attacks is caught and urges anyone who thinks they might know anything to come forward. Some Gryffindor students argue that the teachers should expel all students from Slytherin house, as the obvious source of the attacks.

Harry and Ron decide that it’s time to visit Hagrid. That night they wrap themselves in the invisibility cloak that Harry inherited from his father. Hagrid opens the door with a crossbow. Surprised to see them, he starts to make tea, but is clearly flustered. When there’s a knock at the door, Harry and Ron hide under the invisibility cloak in the corner. Dumbledore enters with Cornelius Fudge , the Minister of Magic. Fudge is there to arrest Hagrid. He says that with four attacks on Muggle-borns, the Ministry has to act. Hagrid protests. Dumbledore tells Fudge that Hagrid has his full confidence. Fudge replies that Hagrid’s record is against him. The school governors have been in touch. He has to take him to Azkaban, the wizard prison, as a precaution. Then Lucius Malfoy enters the cottage with an Order of Suspension for Dumbledore that all twelve governors have signed. Fudge looks alarmed and says suspending Dumbledore is the last thing they want right now. Malfoy replies that the appointment and suspension of the Headmaster is a matter for the governors, and that Dumbledore has failed to stop the attacks. Dumbledore agrees to step aside, but adds “However, you will find that I will only have truly left this school when none here are loyal to me. You will also find that help will always be given at Hogwarts to those who ask for it.” Harry feels that Dumbledore knows they are there and is addressing them. Hagrid also says loudly, “If anyone wanted to find out some stuff, all they’d have ter do would be ter follow the spiders.”

With Dumbledore gone, Hogwarts becomes even more fearful. Draco Malfoy is the only one who enjoys the atmosphere of terror and suspicion. In Potions he says, "I'm quite surprised the Mudbloods haven't all packed their bags by now...Bet you five Galleons the next one dies. Pity it wasn't Granger —." During Herbology class, Ernie apologizes to Harry for suspecting him. He says that he knows Harry would never attack Hermione. When Ernie speculates that Draco Malfoy might by Slytherin’s Heir, Harry replies with a firm no. Harry spots spiders scuttling towards the Forbidden Forest. In Defense Against the Dark Arts class, Lockhart is inappropriately upbeat, convinced that Hagrid must be guilty since he was arrested.

That night Harry and Ron throw on the invisibility cloak and head to Hagrid’s cottage. Along with Fang , they follow the spiders along the path into the Forbidden Forest. They hear something big and see a bright light. Ron realizes that it’s his father’s enchanted car. Then they are suddenly seized from behind by gigantic hairy spiders who carry them to a hollow filled with more spiders, and they release them in front of a web in the center. Aragog , an old blind spider the size of an elephant, emerges to meet them. They learn that Hagrid raised him from an egg in a cupboard in the castle. Aragog remembers that years ago, people at the school mistakenly believed that he was the monster in the Chamber of Secrets and that Hagrid was the Heir of Slytherin. When they blamed him for the death of the girl, Hagrid hid Aragog in the forest. The actual monster in the Chamber of Secrets is so frightening to spiders that they don’t speak its name.

Aragog commanded his children not to harm Hagrid, but he says he will not deny them the fresh meat of Harry, Ron, and Fang. As the spiders surround them, Mr. Weasley’s car comes to the rescue, speeding them out of the hollow and then dropping them on the edge of the forest before it disappears.

Harry realizes that the girl who died, who Aragog said was found in the bathroom, could be Moaning Myrtle.

To the students' shock, Professor McGonagall announces that exams will take place as usual at the beginning of June. A few days before exams, Professor Sprout informs the school that the Mandrakes will be able to revive the petrified students that night. Everyone is hopeful that the petrified students will be able to identify their attacker.

A nervous Ginny Weasley sits with Ron and Harry at the Gryffindor table and says that she has to tell them something. But before she can finish, Percy interrupts them. When Ron yells at his brother, Percy becomes uncomfortable and says that Ginny’s information had nothing to do with the Chamber of Secrets. She walked in on him doing something, but he refuses to talk about it.

Harry and Ron try to sneak into Moaning Myrtle’s bathroom by manipulating Gilderoy Lockhart, but McGonagall catches them. Harry makes up a story that they were going to sneak into the infirmary to tell Hermione that the Mandrakes are almost ready. Moved, she lets them go. In the infirmary, Harry notices that Hermione has something clutched in her hand: a page torn from an old library book with a description of the Basilisk, King of Serpents. They learn that the snake, in addition to venomous fangs, has a murderous stare. Spiders flee before it. The crowing of the rooster is fatal to it. Underneath the passage, Hermione has scrawled the word Pipes.

Harry realizes that the monster in the Chamber of Secrets is a basilisk. He can understand what the serpent is saying because he speaks Parseltongue. The petrified students each looked at the basilisk indirectly, and so avoided its direct death stare: Colin saw it through his camera, Justin through Nick, Hermiuone and Penelope in the mirror, and Mrs. Norris in the reflection in the water. The Heir of Slytherin must have killed Hagrid’s roosters to protect the basilisk. Aragaog’s fear of the basilisk also fits with the description. The serpent must be traveling around Hogwarts in the pipes, which is why Harry has been hearing its voice in the walls. Ron and Harry figure that the entrance to the Chamber of Secrets could be in Moaning Myrtle’s bathroom.

Ron and Harry decide to go to the staff room to tell Professor McGonagall about their discovery. McGonagall orders all students to return to their dormitories, and teachers to the staff room, immediately. Hiding in the wardrobe, Ron and Harry hear McGonagall tell the staff that the monster has taken Ginny Weasley into the Chamber of Secrets. The Heir of Slytherin has left another message on the wall: “Her skeleton will lie in the Chamber forever.” Lockhart joins the staff, who insist that he go battle the monster in the Chamber that night, since that’s what he has been boasting he wants to do. With Lockhart out of the way, they plan to send the students home the next day and close down the school.

In the Gryffindor Common Room, Ron remembers that Ginny tried to speak with them at breakfast. He figures that she must have been taken because she knew something. Harry and Ron decide to tell Lockhart everything. When they go to his office they discover that he is packing up to flee. Lockhart is a fraud: He took credit in his books for the brave actions of others and got away with it by erasing their memories. Lockhart tries to put a Memory Charm on Harry and Ron, but Harry disarms him and Ron throws his wand out the window.

Harry forces Lockhart to join them in Moaning Myrtle’s bathroom. Then Harry asks Myrtle how she died. She says that she saw a pair of big yellow eyes near the sink across from her. They find an image of a tiny snake scratched on the side of a tap. When Harry speaks Parseltongue, the sink disappears, exposing a large pipe. Harry, Ron, and Lockhart go down the pipe, landing in a tunnel covered in small animal bones. They discover an enormous snakeskin. Lockhart tackles Ron and steals his wand. He starts to erase Harry and Ron’s memory, but Ron’s wand backfires, hitting him with the Memory Charm instead. The blast also knocks down a portion of the ceiling, dividing the tunnel. Ron and Lockhart are on one side of a wall of broken rock, while Harry is on the other, Chamber side. Harry continues on while Ron works to clear a passage in the rocks. When Harry finds a wall with a carving of intertwined serpents, he says “Open” in Parseltongue, which opens the Chamber of Secrets.

The Chamber contains columns in the shape of snakes and a huge statue of Salazar Slytherin. Harry finds Ginny at the base of the statue. She is still alive but he can’t wake her. Tom Riddle is leaning against a pillar, watching him. Riddle is blurred around the edges. When Harry asks him if he is a ghost he replies that he is a memory, preserved in his diary for fifty years. Harry asks Tom for his help getting Ginny out of the Chamber, but he doesn’t respond. Harry tries to lift Ginny while Riddle picks up Harry’s wand. Riddle says that he has been waiting to speak with Harry. It dawns on Harry that Riddle is not the friend he thought he was. Riddle explains that Ginny has been writing in his diary for months, telling him all of her worries, including about her crush on Harry. Riddle wrote back sympathetically. As Ginny poured her soul into him, he grew stronger and started to pour his soul into her. Under the power of Riddle, Ginny opened the Chamber of Secrets, strangled the roosters, and wrote the messages on the walls. She didn’t know what she was doing at first, then thinks that she is going mad and attacks everyone.

Harry is horrified and furious. Riddle explains that Ginny finally stopped trusting her diary and tried to dispose of it. Then, to Riddle’s delight, Harry found it. Ginny told Riddle all about Harry’s history, so Riddle wanted to meet Harry. Riddle showed him his capture of Hagrid to gain Harry’s trust. Harry accuses Riddle of framing Hagrid. Riddle says that it was his word against Hagrid’s. Dippett believed him, but Dumbledore didn’t. Dumbledore persuaded the headmaster to train Hagrid as gamekeeper. Since Dumbledore kept a close watch on Riddle, he knew that it wasn’t safe to open the Chamber of Secrets again as a student. But he left behind a diary, preserving his sixteen-year-old self in its pages, so that one day he would be able to lead someone to release Slytherin’s beast.

But Riddle says that killing Mudbloods doesn’t matter to him anymore. His new target is Harry. Ginny stole back the diary before Riddle could get closer to Harry. So he used Ginny to bait Harry into the Chamber of Secrets. Riddle wants to know how it is that Harry managed to defeat Lord Voldemort, who he calls the greatest wizard in the world. When Harry asks why he cares, Riddle uses Harry’s wand to write his name in the air: TOM MARVOLO RIDDLE. Then he waves the wand, and the letters rearrange themselves to: I AM LORD VOLDEMORT. Harry tells him that he isn’t the greatest wizard, Dumbledore is. Then he hears music—it’s Fawkes the phoenix, singing and carrying the Sorting Hat. Riddle laughs at what Dumbledore sent as reinforcements. Harry doesn’t care. Harry tells Riddle that no one knows why Riddle lost his powers when he attacked Harry. But Harry knows why he wasn’t able to kill him: Because Harry’s Muggle-born mother died to save him. Riddle interprets this to mean that Harry was just lucky.

Riddle calls in the basilisk to kill Harry Potter. While Harry runs, Fawkes punctures the snake’s eyes. Harry puts the Sorting Hat on and asks for help. A silver sword lands on his head. As the basilisk strikes Harry, he drives the sword into the serpent’s mouth, killing it. But it’s too late, the serpent’s fang has sunk into his arm, poisoning him. Harry wrenches the fang out as the pain spreads. Riddle gloats as Harry lays dying. Harry senses Fawkes near him and expresses his gratitude. The phoenix lays his head on Harry’s wound and cries. The tears heal Harry, reviving him. As Riddle raises his wand to kill Harry, Fawkes drops the diary into Harry’s lap. Harry seizes the basilisk fang and plunges it into the book. Riddle disappears, screaming. Ginny wakes up. They leave the Chamber, and are reunited with Ron, who is ecstatic to see his sister, and Lockhart, who has lost his memory. They all join hands, as Harry grips Fawke’s tail feathers. The phoenix flies them through the pipe back up to Moaning Myrtle’s bathroom.

They head to Professor McGonagall's office, where they find her along with Dumbledore and Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, who throw their arms around their daughter. Harry places the Sorting Hat and the sword on McGonagall's desk then relates the story of how they figured out that the entrance to the Chamber of Secrets is in Myrtle’s bathroom. McGonagall points out that they broke a hundred school rules, and wants to know how they got out of the Chamber alive. Harry then tells them about Fawke’s timely arrival and the Sorting Hat giving him the sword. He hesitates to implicate Ginny, but Dumbledore understands that Voldemort enchanted her, and just wants to know how. Harry explains that it was the diary. Mr. Weasley is stunned that Voldemort manipulated his daughter. Ginny says sobbing that she found it inside one of the books her mom got her. Dumbledore sends Ginny to the infirmary and asks McGonagall to alert the kitchens to prepare a feast. Ron explains about Lockhart’s ironic amnesia, so Dumbledore asks him to take Lockhart to the hospital as well.

When they are alone, Harry confesses his self-doubts to Dumbledore. He is worried that he is like Riddle. The Sorting Hat considered placing him in Slytherin House. And his fellow students thought Harry was Slytherin’s Heir because he can speak Parseltongue. Dumbledore explains that Voldemort transferred some of his powers to Harry unintentionally the night he gave Harry the scar. Dumbledore reassures him that he belongs in Gryffindor because he chose to be there, declaring that “it is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.” He offers proof that Harry belongs in Gryffindor: The sword he pulled from the Sorting Hat belonged to Godric Gryffindor.

A furious Lucius Malfoy appears in McGonagall's office, with Dobby cowering behind him, and demands to know why Dumbledore has returned to Hogwarts. Dumbledore tells him that the other governors contacted him when they heard that Ginny Weasley had been taken into the Chamber, asking him to come back. They also related that Malfoy had threatened to curse their families if they hadn’t agreed to suspend him. Dumbledore shows Malfoy the diary and points out that if Harry and Ron hadn’t found it, Ginny might have taken the blame for attacking Muggle-borns, which would have reflected badly on her father, and possibly derailed his Muggle Protection Act. Harry realizes through signals from Dobby that Malfoy planted Riddle’s diary in Ginny’s Transfiguration textbook at Flourish and Blotts. When he accuses him, Malfoy demands that he prove it. Dumbledore says that no one will be able to do that, but he warns him not to try anything like this again.

As Lucius Malfoy and Dobby leave, Harry gets an idea. He asks Dumbledore if he can give the diary back to Malfoy. Dumbledore hands it to him. Harry rushes down the corridor after them, stuffing the diary into one of his own filthy socks along the way. When he catches up with Malfoy and Dobby, he forces the sock-covered diary into Malfoy’s hand. As Malfoy disgards the sock in disgust Dobby catches it. This sets the elf free, because his Master gave him a piece of clothing. Lucius pulls his wand on Harry, but Dobby protects him. Weeping, Dobby thanks Harry for freeing him, and then disappears with a loud crack.

Hogwarts celebrates with an all-night feast. All of the petrified students are revived. Hermione is thrilled that Harry figured out the mystery. Ron and Harry secure the House Cup for Gryffindor. Exams are cancelled. Hagrid has been released from prison. Lockhart leaves to regain his memory. Lucius Malfoy loses his position as governor. Harry, Ron, Hermione, Fred, George, and Ginny travel together on the Hogwarts Express. Ginny reveals that Percy’s mysterious behavior was because he has a girlfriend: Penelope Clearwater, the Ravenclaw Prefect who was petrified with Hermione. She caught them kissing. Harry writes his telephone number down for Ron and Hermione. Hermione assumes that Harry’s aunt and uncle will be proud of Harry’s accomplishments. He jokes that they will be furious that he didn’t die. They return to the Muggle world.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets Questions and Answers

The Question and Answer section for Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.

After the boys arrived at the burrow,mrs weasly told her sons to

She gets them to the work of de-gnoming the garden .

What is impression Lockhart has of Harry?

Lockhart likes Harry because he believes that Harry's fame will open doors for him.

What age did Harry Potter end?

Do you mean how old Harry Potter was when the series ended?

Study Guide for Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets study guide contains a biography of J.K. Rowling, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

• About Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
• Character List

Essays for Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets essays are academic essays for citation. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling.

• ‘Life’ and ‘Death’ Upside Down in Harry Potter Series
• Mythical Norms in Kindred and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
• Segregation and Prejudice in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
• Harry Potter and the End of Perfect Tales: Building up to 'Goblet of Fire'
• Harry Potter and the Human Behind “Lord Voldemort”

Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets Review

15 Nov 2002

161 minutes

Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets

Time for Chapter Two of Harry Potter And The Biggest Franchise In Film History.

Kids have been gagging for it ever since they threw their remote controls at the wall in frustration at not being able to access the deleted scenes on the Philosopher's Stone DVD. Adults aren't quite as hyped up second time round, maybe because the momentum was broken by the non-appearance of the fifth volume of J.K. Rowling's boy wizard tales. The result - basically an on-screen illustration of the book, not a proper 'movie' by any structural cinematic definition - will keep avid fans happy with its completeness, but confuse and at times bore the casual or non-reader with its reverential approach to the source material.

The assumption - and it's a fair one at that - is that everyone who sees this will have seen the original. So there's no need to pack in as much explanation of how the wizard world works or about Harry's backstory - the scar, his parents, Voldemort, everything that sets him apart from the other pupils. Chamber Of Secrets treats all of this as presumed knowledge and even abandons Rowling's school calendar structure when the action moves swiftly to Hogwarts. Instead, the focus falls on the central mystery (minus some diverting red herrings) while breaking the flow with a few upgraded favourite scenes, including a breakneck Quiddich chase.

The teachers - even Alan Rickman and Robbie Coltrane, who as Snape and Hagrid provided much of the first film's fun - are relegated to the background, which places even more responsibility on the shoulders of young Daniel Radcliffe. No longer has he simply to gape in wonder at the magic around him: this time the kid's got to act and, during the final encounter with 'Tom Riddle', Harry's fierce loyalty and bravery finds a determined Radcliffe hitting all the right dramatic notes. Harry, as a character, is beginning to come of age; this movie nudges towards a darker good-versus-evil thread for later movies. Radcliffe, too, is making the move from boy to teenager. His voice has broken and, if it keeps deepening at the present rate, he'll be out-rumbling Vin Diesel before they've even got to Goblet Of Fire.

Overall, Chamber Of Secrets' high points are funnier, scarier and more action-heavy than in the first movie. The effects also look more polished - no dodgy centaurs this time - and Dobby the house elf is an expressive little creation, even if he does induce that CG-inflicted disease, 'jarjaritis', during an early scene with Harry. On his second and probably final Potter flick, director Chris Columbus shows more visual confidence, and has become more daring with his swooping computer-assisted camera shots across landscapes and locations. But the film's length does remain a stumbling block - you could adapt War And Peace in a shorter running time - so perhaps only the most attentive children will remain spellbound for its entirety.

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Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets Parent Guide

Despite warnings from Dobby (voice of Toby Jones), a self-abusive servant known as a house elf, Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) decides to return to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry for his second year.

Release date November 13, 2002

Run Time: 161 minutes

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The guide to our grades, parent movie review by donna gustafson.

Despite warnings from Dobby (voice of Toby Jones), a self-abusive servant known as a house elf, Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) decides to return to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry for his second year. But his departure is plagued with disaster—everything from a missed train, and an uncontrollable flying car, to a tree that packs a punch.

Narrowly escaping being expelled before classes even begin, the bespectacled apprentice soon discovers there was just cause for the elf’s words of caution. Paralyzed classmates, threats written in blood, and rumors of a mysterious chamber housing a monster have the entire academic establishment running scared. Suspicions about who may have unleashed the deadly unknown demon quickly turn to Harry, thanks to his innate ability for being in the wrong place at the wrong time, and the unveiling of an unusual talent the lad didn’t know he possessed.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets is not for the fainthearted. Fans familiar with the book will remember the inclusion of several fearful creatures including snakes and spiders. (Any one with phobias will likely relate to Ron’s reactions to the situations.) While the movie script follows J.K. Rowling’s novel fairly faithfully, seeing these sometimes-sinister encounters depicted will be more frightening for many viewers than just reading about them.

Yet, what keeps the film from succumbing to monster movie status is the powerful theme that emerges. It appears the late Lord Voldemort had a certain aversion to wizards without pureblood pedigrees, and the infamous villain’s sympathizers are still trying to establish an upper class. Harry, whose unique heritage has made him a celebrity, chooses to befriend those who are of questionable lineage, poor and in servitude. It is humility and loyalty that make this boy a worthy hero, and accounts for some of the magic of the Harry Potter franchise.

About author

Donna Gustafson

Harry potter and the chamber of secrets parents' guide.

How do you feel about the statement made by the sage wizard Dumbledore (Richard Harris) when he tells Harry, “It is not our abilities, but our choices that show us who we really are”?

The most recent home video release of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets movie is April 10, 2003. Here are some details…

On November 8, 2011, Warner Bother’s studio is releasing: Harry Potter: The Complete 8-Film Collection (also known as Harry Potter- Years 1-7)

Related home video titles:

Families looking for a slightly less frightening wizard may want to check out The Wizard of Oz .

Follow Harry Potter’s other adventures in:

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone

Movies in the series that follow this one include:

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 1

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2

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Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets

51 pages • 1 hour read

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapters 1-4

Chapters 5-8

Chapters 9-11

Chapters 12-14

Chapters 15-18

Character Analysis

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

Discussion Questions

Rowling follows a limited, third-person perspective . How does this shape the reader’s experience in following Harry’s adventures?

Chamber of Secrets incorporates elements from several genres, including fantasy, young adult, mystery, and satire . Analyze how the novel fits one or more of these genres, as well as ways in which it diverges from what is typical within that genre .

Several characters comment on issues related to fame, glory, or public perception, including Lockhart, Harry, Draco, and Riddle. Compare and contrast two of these or other characters’ views as they relate to fame or public image.

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Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

By j.k. rowling.

'Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets' is the second book in J K Rowling's Harry Potter series. It follows Harry Potter and his friends Ron and Hermione and their adventures during their second year at Hogwarts.

Article written by Mohandas Alva

M.A. Degree in English Literature from Manipal University, India.

This novel starts immediately after the events of ‘ Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone .’ Harry’s world has significantly changed since last year when Hagrid, the gamekeeper of Hogwarts, revealed to Harry that he is a wizard. Harry spent last year not just attending the school of magic, Hogwarts but also learning loads of new stuff about how wizards operate and who his parents really were. Harry also faced Lord Voldemort , his nemesis, at the end of the school year.

‘ Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets ‘ significantly brings a lot of nuance to the real problems of the wizarding world and is a tad bit darker as a narrative. It speaks of the ill-treating of magical beings like the house elves, delves deeper into the origins of Voldemort , and gives a deeper understanding of the world run by wizards.

‘Spoiler-Free’ Summary of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

‘ Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets ‘ begins with Harry feeling very lonely at Privet Drive after his first year at Hogwarts. He is sad that he has not received any letters from his friends Ron, Hermione, and even Hagrid.

Uncle Vernon is expecting guests and therefore tries to keep Harry inside his room. However, when Harry is sitting in his room, he is encountered by a rather strange creature who introduces himself as Dobby, a house-elf. He warns Harry that his life is in grave danger and that he shouldn’t be going to Hogwarts as someone is planning terrible things that would put Harry in danger. He also accidentally lets slip that the reason Harry has not received any letters this summer is that he has been hiding them.

Eventually, Dobby deliberately drops the pudding made by Aunt Petunia on the guests and ensures that Harry is blamed for it, just so that he is forced to stay at Privet Drive.

Harry, however, decides to go to Hogwarts, and once there, several sinister attacks happen in the castle, ‘petrifying’ victims. Harry, Ron, and Hermione try to figure out what is causing these attacks.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets Summary

Spoiler Alert: Important details of the novel are revealed below

‘ Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets ‘ by J. K. Rowling begins with Harry’s ‘Solitary Confinement’ as punishment for dropping the pudding on Uncle Vernon’s guests, something Harry didn’t do. Ron and his brothers rescue him from Uncle Vernon, who had locked Harry up in a room with their father’s bewitched Ford Anglia that can fly.

Harry spends the rest of his summer in Ron’s house, ‘ The Burrow .’ Harry is very happy with how kind and nurturing Ron’s family is towards him, especially Mrs. Weasley, Ron’s mother. They all then plan to leave for Diagon Alley to buy books and other supplies through the Floo Network, which Harry is new to.

Harry accidentally ends up in a novelties shop called Borgin and Burkes , where he sees Malfoy and his father discussing forbidden items with the owner of the shop. He then ends up in Knockturn Alley, where he finds Hagrid, and they both meet Hermione and eventually Ron and his family.

They all end up in a bookshop where they meet their new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Gilderoy Lockhart, who instantly clicks pictures with Harry and makes a spectacle out of everything. Harry meets Malfoy in the shop, and they have a tussle which eventually ends up with Arthur Weasley and Lucius Malfoy having a fistfight, which Hagrid ends up stopping.

On the day of boarding the Hogwarts Express, Harry and Ron are locked out of platform nine and three-quarters, and they eventually decide to reach Hogwarts in Ron’s father’s flying car. They eventually reach Hogwarts but are caught and given detention.

Quidditch season begins with news that Draco Malfoy is the new seeker of Slytherin and that his father bought a brand new Nimbus 2001 brooms for everybody on their team. Hermione insults Malfoy for buying his way into the team, to which Malfoy calls her a Mudblood , an offensive term for a muggle -born person. Ron retaliates with a spell, but it accidentally backfires, and he is left to belching slugs.

During Harry’s detention signing fan mail for Gilderoy Lockhart, he hears a sinister voice speaking about killing someone. He also realizes that Lockhart is oblivious to this voice. Harry, Ron, and Hermione are invited to attend Nearly Headless Nick ’s deathday party and, on their way back, come across Mr. Filch’s cat, Mrs. Norris, lifelessly hanging near the wall. Several people reach the spot, and Professor Dumbledore determines that the cat has been ‘petrified,’ a condition similar to a coma. A sinister message is written in what looks like blood on the wall, saying that the Chamber of Secrets has been opened and that the enemies of the Heir of Slytherin should be scared.

During the first Quidditch match of the year against Slytherin, Harry is attacked by a rogue bludger who tries to hurt Harry and eventually succeeds by breaking his arm. Harry catches the snitch nevertheless and wins Gryffindor the game. Gilderoy Lockhart tries to repair Harry’s arm but ends up creating more damage, and Harry has to spend a night in the hospital wing. There he meets Dobby again, who admits to tampering with both the wall that prevented Harry and Ron from going to Platform nine and three quarters, as well as the rogue bludger.

Harry is very angry but eventually calms down as he feels compassion for Dobby. Eventually, Colin Creevey , another victim who is petrified, is brought to the hospital by Professor Dumbledore and McGonagall.

During a duel at the Dueling Club, Harry also figures out, along with the rest of the school, that the reason he can speak to snakes is that he is a ‘Parselmouth,’ like Salazar Slytherin himself. Rumors begin to spread that Harry might be the Heir of Slytherin, and soon enough, Justin Finch Fletchley and Nearly Headless Nick become new victims and are petrified too.

Hermione is adamant about figuring out a way to find out from Malfoy as to who the Heir of Slytherin is. So, she starts brewing the Polyjuice potion , which allows its drinker to shapeshift into someone else. Harry and Ron transform into Crabbe and Goyle and enter the Slytherin dormitory to ask Malfoy about it. However, they realize he, too, doesn’t know who the heir is. Around the same time, Harry finds a mysterious black diary that belongs to Tom Riddle. When he researches the diary it takes him into Riddle’s memory and shows him that Hagrid was the one who opened the Chamber of Secrets.

Shocked by this information, Harry, Ron, and Hermione discuss a course of action, but eventually, even Hermione is petrified and is admitted to the hospital. So, when Harry and Ron go to Hagrid’s hut to question him, the Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge, visits Hagrid and eventually takes him to Azkaban to prevent further attacks. Lucius Malfoy, too, arrives there with a letter dismissing Dumbledore from his post as the Headmaster.

Taking clues from Hagrid’s words, Harry and Ron go to the Forbidden Forest in search of answers but encounter a large spider whom Hagrid had saved. Aragog, the spider claims that Hagrid never opened the Chamber of Secrets and that the creature that is petrifying people in the castle is a very dangerous and feared creature. On their way back, the other spiders in the colony try to attack them, but they barely make it alive with the help of Ron’s abandoned car.

Back in the castle, Ginny Weasley, Ron’s sister, is taken to the Chamber of Secrets, and fear spreads throughout the school. Harry, Ron, and Gilderoy Lockhart, the latter who had always been overconfident about his skills enter the Chamber of Secrets. Harry eventually goes into the Chamber, sees Ginny, and encounters Tom Riddle’s life-like apparition , who claims that he is the younger self of Harry’s archenemy, Lord Voldemort.

Riddle summons the beast, the Basilisk , a large snake, to kill Harry, but Dumbledore’s pet Phoenix, Fawkes, arrives on time with the Sorting Hat that contains the Sword of Gryffindor. Harry eventually defeats the Basilisk and then punctures Tom Riddle’s diary with the Basilisk’s fangs, thereby ‘killing’ the apparition of Riddle. Ginny comes back to normal, and they all are safely carried out of the Chamber by Fawkes.

Dumbledore is reinstated as the Headmaster, and Hagrid is brought back from Azkaban too. It is eventually revealed that Riddle’s diary forced Ginny into releasing the Basilisk to petrify the victims and that it was Lucius Malfoy who deliberately placed the diary along with Ginny’s books. It is also revealed that Dobby is the Malfoys’ House Elf. Harry eventually frees Dobby by manipulating Lucius Malfoy into giving Dobby a sock. Dumbledore congratulates Harry, and by extension, Hermione and Ron, for being very proud and resourceful.

What is the beast in the Chamber of Secrets?

The beast in the Chamber of Secrets is a Basilisk, an ancient creature feared by spiders and many other creatures. Its bite is fatal as its fangs are highly venomous, and its eyes are deadly, and seeing it instantly kills the victim. However, if its eyes are seen through a reflection, the person is petrified. The Basilisk was used by Tom Riddle, the heir of Slytherin, to attack Muggle-born students at Hogwarts.

Is Tom Riddle Lord Voldemort?

Yes, Tom Riddle is, in fact, Lord Voldemort. In ‘ Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets ,’ it is also revealed that his full name Tom Marvolo Riddle, is an anagram of the statement “I am Lord Voldemort.” He was named after his father, who was a muggle. When Voldemort realized this, he wanted to distance himself from this name and therefore chose a different name.

Why was Hagrid expelled from Hogwarts?

Hagrid was wrongfully accused of housing the beast in the Chamber of Secrets and letting it loose to kill Myrtle Warren, who later became the ghost, Moaning Myrtle. In actuality, it was Tom Riddle, or Lord Voldemort, who set the Basilisk loose in the castle to kill muggle-born students. The spider that Hagrid kept, Aragog, never hurt anyone in the castle. Although Hagrid was expelled from Hogwarts, Professor Dumbledore trusted him, and he was therefore given a job as a gamekeeper.

Harry Potter Quiz

Summon your wit and wisdom—our Harry Potter Trivia Quiz awaits you! Do you have the knowledge to claim the title of Master Witch or Wizard? Take the challenge now!

1) What was the last Horcrux to be destroyed?

2) What is the name of the goblin-made object that is supposed to bring its owner prosperity, but also brings them into conflict with goblins?

3) What are the dying words of Severus Snape in both the book and the film "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows"?

4) What is the effect of the Cheering Charm?

5) What is the name of the book Hermione gives to Harry before his first ever Quidditch match?

6) What animal represents Hufflepuff house?

7) In the "Order of the Phoenix," who is NOT a member of the original Order of the Phoenix shown in the old photograph that Moody shows Harry?

8) What specific type of dragon does Harry face during the Triwizard Tournament?

9) What creature is Aragog?

10) Which creature can transform into a person's worst fear?

11) What is the name of the goblin who helps Harry, Ron, and Hermione break into Gringotts?

12) In which Harry Potter book does Harry first speak Parseltongue?

13) What is the name of the train that takes students to Hogwarts?

14) Which spell is used to open the Marauder's Map?

15) Which potion did Hermione brew in her second year that allowed her, Ron, and Harry to assume the identities of Slytherins?

16) What is the core ingredient of the wand owned by Harry Potter?

17) Which character is killed by Bellatrix Lestrange in the Battle of Hogwarts?

18) What does the incantation "Obliviate" do?

19) What potion is known as "Liquid Luck"?

20) Who teaches Herbology at Hogwarts?

21) Which object is NOT one of the Deathly Hallows?

22) What does the Mirror of Erised show?

23) What is Dumbledore's full name?

24) Who was the Peverell brother that owned the invisibility cloak?

25) What form does Hermione Granger's Patronus take?

26) What is the name of Harry Potter's pet owl?

27) Who is the Half-Blood Prince?

28) Who originally owned the Elder Wand before Dumbledore won it?

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About Mohandas Alva

Mohandas is very passionate about deciphering the nature of language and its role as a sole medium of storytelling in literature. His interests sometimes digress from literature to philosophy and the sciences but eventually, the art and craft of narrating a significant story never fail to thrill him.

About the Book

The Harry Potter section of Book Analysis analyzes and explorers the Harry Potter series. The characters, names, terminology, and all related indicia are trademarks of Warner Bros ©. The content on Book Analysis was created by Harry Potter fans, with the aim of providing a thorough in-depth analysis and commentary to complement and provide an additional perspective to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

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Home — Essay Samples — Literature — Harry Potter — Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets: Book Review

Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets: Book Review

• Categories: Harry Potter J. K. Rowling

About this sample

Words: 1103 |

Published: Oct 2, 2018

Words: 1103 | Pages: 2 | 6 min read

Works Cited

• Granger, J. (2004). Unlocking Harry Potter: Five Keys for the Serious Reader. Zossima Press.
• Kirk, C. (2011). The Magic of Harry Potter: Essays Concerning Magic, Literary Devices, and Moral Imagination. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform.
• Lewis, C. S. (2000). Harry Potter: Good or Evil? In The Seeing Eye and Other Selected Essays from Christian Reflections (pp. 94-95). Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.
• McCoy, J. (2018). J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter Novels: A Reader's Guide. Continuum.
• Rowling, J.K. (1998). Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. Bloomsbury Publishing.
• Scott, R. A., & Lockhart, M. (2002). Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets: The Illustrated Edition. Scholastic Inc.
• Smith, H. (2003). Conversations with J.K. Rowling. Scholastic.
• Whited, L. R. (2002). The Harry Potter Series and its Transmedia Strategies. Children's Literature Association Quarterly, 27(2), 79-86.
• Whited, L. R. (2003). Reading Harry Potter: Critical Essays. Praeger.
• Whited, L. R. (2004). The Ivory Tower and Harry Potter: Perspectives on a Literary Phenomenon. University of Missouri Press.

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Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Book Review Example

Pages: 2

Words: 622

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In this second novel by J.K. Rowling, the basic plot revolves around Harry Potter and his second year of attendance at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. During this fascinating second year at the school, Harry and his fellow classmates begin to see messages sprawled across the walls of the corridors that warn them of the Chamber of Secrets, a very dire place where the heir of Slytherin resides and who has decreed that he would murder every pupil that does not belong to a magical family. As a sign of his intentions, the heir attacks some of the pupils by gorgonizing them or turning them to stone. These attacks then prompt Harry, Ron Weasley, and Hermoine Granger to start an investigation into the attacks.

Much like the first Harry Potter novel, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets takes the reader on a dizzying search for self-meaning and self-identification, mostly through the main protagonist Harry whose self-identity is conceptualized through his personal decisions as opposed to relying upon the magical powers associated with his heritage. Of course, since this novel is intended for young readers (although adult readers also find it fascinating and alluring), Harry’s decisions reflect his moral upbringing and are tinged with knowing the right thing to do under most circumstances. This second novel in the series also involves a game of Jekyll and Hyde via some of the other main characters who attempt to conceal their actual personalities from the reader. But for Harry, the true conflict presented in this novel is his attempts to know himself which is complicated by being a half-blood prince of sorts and an orphan who does not know the true identities of his parents.

There are also a number of literary themes and motifs to be found in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets . For example, Harry seems to have been brought up to respect other human beings despite their faults and non-magic backgrounds. This is especially true when he encounters individuals from the lower classes or those who are not as well off socially as those in the middle classes. Harry also respects non-human entities who for the most part are seen as irritants by others and not deserving of any considerations. This respect for others also extends to their race which in Harry’s eyes is not of much importance when attempting to decipher a person’s character and personality.

Some literary scholars have noted that Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets contains indications that Rowling was attempting to warn her young readers not to take at face value information that one hears in the mass media or might read in a book or newspaper. A good example in the novel is Tom Riddle’s diary which appears to be a form of propaganda, meaning that it conveys one message but actually means something else, such as attempting to promote a specific political or social agenda or ideal. In many ways, this does make a lot of sense because J.K. Rowling was at the beginning of her writing career a school teacher whose main job is to enlighten her students, in this case, Rowling’s numerous readers who could be labeled as devotees to the many other causes that one can find in Rowling’s work.

Overall, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets takes the reader on a fascinating journey into the mind of Harry Potter and allows the reader to explore his/her own feelings and emotions via Rowling’s often perplexing characters. Also like the first Potter novel, this second novel contains some rather controversial material that parents might find as objectionable for their young children. But this is what makes the Potter series so popular with young readers and often so controversial with critics.

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20 years on, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban director Alfonso Cuarón and producer David Heyman reflect on taking the series in a darker direction

As the film widely regarded as the best Harry Potter movie hits its 20th anniversary, Total Film talks to the team behind it

This feature appears in the current issue of Total Film , which is available on shelves and digital newsstands now.

"I was not very aware of Potter’s universe and I was surprised to be offered it, coming from Y tu mamá también," recalls director Alfonso Cuarón, who’s talking to Total Film 20 years on from the release of his one and only dip into the Wizarding World, with Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban . The third movie in the Potter franchise, it was, at the time, by some distance the best in the series – and the critical consensus did not alter once the dust settled on the five movies that followed.

"I was confused because it was completely not on my radar," Cuarón continues. "I speak often with Guillermo [del Toro] , and a couple of days after, I said, 'You know, they offered me this Harry Potter film, but it’s really weird they offer me this.' He said, 'Wait, wait, wait, you said you haven’t read Harry Potter?' I said, “' don’t think it’s for me.' In very florid lexicon, in Spanish, he said, 'You are an arrogant asshole.'"

"I’d seen Y tu mamá también, which I loved, and I oddly thought he’d be the perfect director for the third Potter," remembers David Heyman, who in 1999 bought the rights to the first four novels and went on to produce all eight Potter movies and the three Fantastic Beasts prequels that came after. He grins into the Zoom camera. "That’s not what some might think. Can you imagine what some thought Harry, Ron and Hermione would get up to, having seen Y tu mamá también?" It’s a fair point – Cuarón’s Mexican road movie about two 17-year-old guys and a 28-year-old woman enjoying uninhibited sex was full of action, and we don’t mean quidditch. "Y tu mamá was about the last moments of being a teenager, and Azkaban was about the first moments of being a teenager," Heyman notes. "I felt he could make the show feel, in a way, more contemporary. And just bring his cinematic wizardry."

Now, with Children of Men and Gravity on his CV, Cuarón seems like a more obvious choice than he did in the early noughties. Back then, the director had made only Mexican romcom Sólo con tu pareja, A Little Princess (which Heyman adored), Great Expectations starring Ethan Hawke, and Y tu mamá también, meaning he was untested on a film of Azkaban’s scale. Surely Warner Bros. wouldn’t entrust their golden goose to Cuarón? 

The first two movies, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets , had together rung up almost $1.9bn at the worldwide box office – the kind of prize you’d employ three-headed dog Fluffy to protect. That there was to be a change at all was only because Chris Columbus (Home Alone, Mrs. Doubtfire) wished to spend more time with his family. He would stay on as a producer, but had chosen to vacate the director’s chair. 

Heyman flew to LA to meet with Alan F. Horn, President and COO of Warner Bros. Due diligence meant that there were several names under discussion – del Toro, Marc Forster, Callie Khouri, M. Night Shyamalan, and Kenneth Branagh, fresh from playing charismatic charlatan Gilderoy Lockhart in Chamber of Secrets, were all reportedly in the sorting hat – but it was Cuarón whose name was plucked out and announced to the world in July 2002. The franchise "needed to grow with the books", stressed Heyman, and Prisoner of Azkaban represented the pivotal moment when Harry (Daniel Radcliffe), Hermione (Emma Watson), and Ron (Rupert Grint) were to undergo their most terrifying encounter yet: puberty.

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Teenage kicks

Prisoner of Azkaban is the last of the Potter books that can be described as lean, but is, nonetheless, a complex, densely plotted affair. Adapted by returning scribe Steve Kloves, the script details Harry attending Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry for his third year, only to find the beloved institution shrouded in fear. Circling the dark skies above Hogwarts are the Dementors, wraith-like creatures normally found guarding the fortress of Azkaban in the middle of the North Sea, where the worst criminals in the Wizarding World are detained. These cold, callous creatures now haunt Hogwarts because convicted murderer Sirius Black (Gary Oldman) has escaped from Azkaban. Black, it is whispered, was the most devoted follower of Voldemort, and is now intent on killing Harry to avenge the Dark Lord. 

But the plot, full of twists and turns and incorporating new Defence Against the Dark Arts instructor Professor Remus Lupin (David Thewlis), is only a part of it. Also in play are the secrets of Harry’s past as the series begins to properly dig into just what it is that makes him who he is – the famed only survivor of an attack by Voldemort. And then there’s a host of terrific set-pieces, new magical creatures, a clockwork-precise time-travel element, and, crucially, these now-teenage kids beginning to struggle with not just their hormones but their very identities. "The first two Potters deal with children’s experience," reflects Cuarón. "Characters who are 11 and 12. Innocence. A purity even in the way they see the danger. We were dealing with the first sting of questioning everything, particularly who you are. Suddenly you are not part of the whole; there is a teenage separation."

The director came to the production – the first to swell from a year-long time frame to 18 months, necessitated by the deepening and darkening of the books – with plenty of tricks up his sleeve. For starters, he sought to capture naturalistic performances from the young cast, who were now of an age where they could wrestle with their characters’ motivations and emotions rather than simply recite the lines. "Chris [Columbus] would help them with intonation and get them excited; Alfonso was treating them as young adults: what are you feeling?" explains Heyman. "Alfonso also had the three kids write essays about their characters. Dan wrote a page, Emma wrote 10 or 12, and Rupert didn’t give in anything. Just perfect."

"They were becoming more aware of the craft of acting and they wanted to go to the next stage," says Cuarón, who was satisfied that they understood their characters given how perfectly the effort they put into their essays chimed with their on-screen personalities. "From the get-go we talked about how we wanted to ground everything, to make it about a normal human experience in this world. [We wanted to explore] the internal life of each one of these characters. They were incredibly intuitive about this, and very receptive."

Another trick Cuarón employed was to bring in costume designer Jany Temime and together work on ensuring that each teen wore their school uniform to express their individuality. In the first two movies, the uniforms were, well, uniform, worn as a child would present themselves on the first day of school. In Azkaban, shirts are untucked, ties loosely knotted and sleeves rolled, while any time spent outside of lessons sees the kids ditch their uniforms for civvies. 

"Every robe was a slightly less bright red; it was a more muted red," nods Heyman. "The ties were less vivid, a little more purply red. Alfonso wanted Dumbledore’s robes to be more fluid, not as stiff and formal as [those worn by] Richard Harris. A little less statesman-like. A little more eccentric." 

Harris, sadly, had passed away when Chamber of Secrets was in post-production, with the role of Professor Albus Dumbledore inherited by Michael Gambon. Cuarón envisaged the headmaster as more of an "old hippie", as Temime put it, his robes of tie-dyed silk flowing behind him. Professor Lupin, meanwhile, wore unkempt tweeds, with Cuarón desiring that Thewlis exhibit the air of "an uncle who parties hard on the weekends". That Cuarón should introduce Thewlis and Oldman to the established adult cast that included Maggie Smith (Professor McGonagall), Alan Rickman (Severus Snape), and Robbie Coltrane (Hagrid) was no coincidence, again evidencing his desire to freshen the franchise. "It was a different culture of acting," says Heyman. "Not people who are sirs and lords and ladies."

Also key was Cuarón’s decision to introduce location work to what had largely been a studio-bound franchise. Certainly, much of the 2003 shoot, which ran from 24 February to late November, was conducted at Leavesden Studios in Hertfordshire, but the joyously crazed Knight Bus sequence was shot in Palmers Green and other areas of London, while Scottish locations provided the film’s natural scenery. As for the exhilarating scene in which Harry rides hippogriff Buckbeak, a visit to Virginia Water Lake in Surrey will have you scanning the sky for a swooping winged beast. 

But perhaps the most important change wrought by Cuarón was to introduce a more cinematic style, as he determined to explore Hogwarts’ grounds. "I can’t do anything unless I have the freedom to do what I do," says the director whose earlier films had established his fondness for fluid camera movement. "I wanted to stretch things. Open up the universe. To feel that Hogwarts is set in a geographical place, where you can have nature around your universe, and to make your universe one with that nature. And to create a geographic logic to Hogwarts. You know, the Great Hall is here, and then the stairs are next to the Great Hall, and if you take the stairs you go to the bedrooms… If you go to the Clock Tower, the hospital is a corridor away, and you can see the courtyard, and from there you see the bridge… and below that is Hagrid’s hut, and the Whomping Willow on the other side, then the forest…"

Incoming DoP Michael Seresin introduced a patina of silver and shadow to reflect the darkening emotions, and shot much of the action with wide-angled lenses to enable Cuarón to incorporate the characters’ body language, and to locate them in relation to Hogwarts. Columbus had favored close-ups, but Cuarón insists the evolution of style was for a concrete reason: "A child doesn’t have a sense of orientation. Places are places."

Of course, one element that Cuarón was delighted to maintain was John Williams, and the legendary composer distinguished his final franchise collaboration (though his theme would repeat throughout the series) by complementing his existing score with the thrilling and chilling addition of the Frog Choir singing 'Double Trouble'. With the lyrics taken from Shakespeare’s Macbeth ("Something wicked this way comes!"), it adds another tinge of horror to go with the Dementors, the reveal that Lupin is a werewolf, the threat of the murderous Black, and the folk-horror vibe as a sense of ancient power emanates from Hogwarts’ slopes and forests. 

Some sequences are genuinely scary, and most frightening of all is when the Dementors descend upon the Hogwarts Express from a grey, rain-lashed sky. Did Heyman and Cuarón ever fear that Azkaban was too dark? "You know, young people don’t like to be patronised," Heyman says. "It’s more parents worrying about their children than children worrying about themselves. So this is edgy. It’s thrilling. And the kids, and adults, watching it are enthralled."

"When I was at the set of the train, it reminded me so much of the Hitchcock films I had seen of the '30s and '40s," says Cuarón, who worked with master puppeteer Basil Twist to map the movement of puppets performing underwater, in slow motion. The practical effects, though ultimately scrapped, provided creative direction for VFX house Industrial Light & Magic to invest the Dementors with the "metaphysical quality" that Cuarón desired. But back to Hitch… "I wanted to do something in that atmosphere. Like Hitchcock, it was more about the anticipation."

All of these techniques and sequences were sewn together with as much skill as Cuarón brought to bear on stitching together the film’s time-travel sequence, in which Hermione uses the Time-Turner to save Buckbeak from execution, and more. For that shot, about a minute’s worth of action was filmed on Steadicam against bluescreen, and four minutes of background footage, shot separately, was then speeded up and composited behind the main action, while two other plates of background footage were tiled together as the camera turned. It was multiverse madness long before the MCU, and the result was dazzling. 

The same with the movie, which opened in the UK on 31 May 2004 and scored the highest opening weekend at the box office in UK history – a record it kept until Spectre’s release in 2015. In the US and Canada, it enjoyed the third biggest opening weekend of all time, racking up a cool $93.7m. With a worldwide total of $795.6m, Prisoner of Azkaban was the second biggest movie of 2004, behind Shrek 2. 

The reviews, too, were largely stellar, with The Hollywood Reporter calling it "deeper, darker, visually arresting, and more emotionally satisfying" than the previous Potters, while Rolling Stone labelled it a "dazzler". Now, 20 years on, it’s regarded by critics as the finest Potter movie, though Cuarón is far too modest to accept such praise. 

"Critics should ask children and Average Joes!" he laughs. "I’m grateful, but I have to say, if you ask fans and children, they have different views. But I was lucky that Azkaban is the most complex story. I saw it almost as a noir."

Heyman, naturally, won’t choose between his babies. "They’re all my children and they each mark different points in my life," he says. "I met my wife on the end of the second film, I brought my stepchildren onto the third film – Alfonso is my son’s godfather. The friendships that I made are so significant. I do think three is a very a special film, but I also think one, two, four, five, six, seven and eight are, too."

Cuarón concludes with a contented sigh. "I was very generously asked if I wanted to stay in the series but I felt that Prisoner of Azkaban was such an incredible sense of discovery. I’d been learning every day and I didn’t want to stop learning. It’s such an incredible universe and I had such a beautiful time."

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban is out now in UK cinemas via a rerelease.

For more coming your way this year, check out our guide to the upcoming movies you should be watching out for.

Jamie Graham is the Editor-at-Large of Total Film magazine. You'll likely find them around these parts reviewing the biggest films on the planet and speaking to some of the biggest stars in the business – that's just what Jamie does. Jamie has also written for outlets like SFX and the Sunday Times Culture, and appeared on podcasts exploring the wondrous worlds of occult and horror. 

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The 10 Best Dumbledore Quotes in the Harry Potter Movies, Ranked

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Among the plethora of great wizards in the Harry Potter franchise, none are as iconic as Professor Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore ( Richard Harris and Sir Michael Gambon ). Sorted into Gryffindor during his time at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, he eventually got a job as the Transfiguration teacher before taking the position of headmaster. It was said that while Dumbledore was at Hogwarts, it was the safest place in the wizarding world, and he actively took stances against two generations of dark wizards.

Having lived for over a hundred and ten years, Dumbledore accumulated a vast wealth of knowledge and wisdom, which he was always willing to give to those in need if they'd only listen. Dumbledore's favorite method of dispatching wisdom is through many memorable quotes . Both Harris and Gambon's deliveries make these quotes all the more memorable thanks to their phenomenal deliveries, which capture Dumbledore's empathy and ability to connect with others.

10 "It Was Foolish of You to Come Here Tonight, Tom"

'harry potter and the order of the phoenix' (2007).

Due to the paranoia of Minister of Magic Cornelius Fudge ( Robert Hardy ), Dumbledore is ousted as headmaster of Hogwarts but escapes imprisonment thanks to the aid of his pet phoenix, Fawkes. He reappears during the Battle at the Department of Mysteries, confronting Voldemort ( Ralph Fiennes ) himself when he attempts to seize a prophecy concerning Harry Potter ( Daniel Radcliffe ). He addresses Voldemort with his first name before engaging him in an intense magical duel.

This line is the perfect way to summarize the relationship between Dumbledore and Voldemort . Instead of using the name that is so feared among the wizarding world that they treat it as a taboo, Dumbledore calls him Tom, showing that, despite all the power he has accumulated, he is nothing more than a scared man. It serves as a wonderful demonstration of Voldemort's vulnerabilities without his mask of power and control and that Dumbledore's wisdom and age leave him little reason to fear his former student.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

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9 "Draco, Years Ago, I Knew a Boy Who Made All the Wrong Choices. Please, Let Me Help You."

'harry potter and the half-blood prince' (2009).

After traveling to a seaside cave to retrieve one of Lord Voldemort's Horcruxes, Dumbledore is weakened after drinking a potion that forces him to revisit his worst memories. The two return to Hogwarts, where Draco Malfoy ( Tom Felton ) ambushes Dumbledore in the astronomy tower to kill him on Voldemort's orders. Seeing his pain, Dumbledore attempts to reach Draco using the above quote.

The quote is left vague as to who Dumbledore is talking about , but one strong contender could be Dumbledore himself. While Dumbledore always presents himself as cheerful, beneath his warm smile are decades of pain linked to poor choices and past conflicts with close friends. Yet, despite his pain, he always tries to focus on helping others to ensure they don't repeat the same mistakes he and many others did.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

8 “of course, it is happening inside your head, harry, but why should that mean it is not real”, 'harry potter and the deathly hallows - part 2' (2011).

While looking through the memories of Severus Snape ( Alan Rickman ), Harry learns that a piece of Voldemort's soul is inside of him, so he willingly lets Voldemort kill him and the piece of his soul. He awakens in an ethereal version of King's Cross Station, where he meets Dumbledore again. At the end of their conversation, Harry asks if this is real or inside his head, prompting Dumbledore to respond with this line.

This quote has a lot of different ways of being interpreted . In the context of the film, Dumbledore assures Harry that this experience is true and that, since he controls his destiny, he can return to life if he wants. In a more meta context, it's a validation for fans that the emotions they experience while watching or reading about the wizarding world make it come alive in their imagination.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2

7 "do not pity the dead, harry. pity the living and, above all, those who live without love.".

The climactic Battle of Hogwarts saw the largest death toll in the series, as many of Harry's friends died to buy him time to track down the Horcruxes and make Voldemort mortal again. As such, he felt no hesitation to sacrifice himself for them to destroy the sliver of Voldemort's soul living inside of him. As if sensing Harry's turbulent emotions regarding the sacrifices made thus far, Dumbledore gives him this advice as their time together draws to an end.

It is natural to miss those who have passed on, and often, it hurts to think about all the experiences they don't get to participate in anymore. However, it is the living who carry this grief and sorrow with them and have to keep fighting to change the world for the better. Thus, they are the ones more deserving of pity, especially those who don't know love, like the cruel Lord Voldemort , because they will never know the joy of sharing experiences with others for no other reward than to see them happy.

6 "Happiness Can be Found, Even in the Darkest of Times, If One Only Remembers to Turn on the Light."

'harry potter and the prisoner of azkaban' (2004).

During Harry's third year at Hogwarts, security around Hogwarts is heightened due to the escape of supposedly notorious murderer Sirius Black ( Gary Oldman ). One of the added security measures is the dementors, terrifying dark creatures who spread misery and despair. While addressing the students during the opening feast, Dumbledore attempts to reassure them with one of his vague yet wise sayings.

Powerful in its simplicity, this quote is one of the best to apply to the viewer's everyday lives . With so many terrible things on the news, it can become difficult to see the positive side of life, but there is always a light in the darkness. Sometimes, it needs to be found, and doing so can be long and arduous, but that makes the positivity all the more rewarding.

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

5 ”while we may come from different places and speak in different tongues, our hearts beat as one.”, 'harry potter and the goblet of fire' (2005).

During Harry's fourth year, Hogwarts hosts the Tri-Wizard Tournament to build positive relations with its sister schools, Beauxbatons Academy of Magic and Durmstrang Institute. Sadly, the tournament takes a tragic turn when Cedric Diggory ( Robert Pattinson ) is killed by a newly revived Voldemort, who rigged the tournament to capture Harry and use his blood in a ritual to bring himself back to power. As Dumbledore addresses the students following the death, he says this quote as part of his speech.

This section of the speech stands out the most because of how eloquently it cuts to the heart of the issue. The students have come from all corners of Europe, but at this moment, they are united in their shared emotions of grief. It's a poignant reminder of the common thread that unites all of humanity , and though it can be hard to be reminded of it during times of hardship, it's imperative to never lose sight of it.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

4 “soon, we must all face the choice between what is right and what is easy.”.

As Harry's fourth year draws to a close, Dumbledore speaks with him in the Gryffindor dormitory. Knowing that Harry has already experienced many hardships with Cedric's death and Voldemort's return, Dumbledore doesn't sugarcoat things and tells him bluntly that dark times will be coming for the wizarding world. He punctuates this inevitability with the above quote and then tells Harry not to forget the friends he has.

When dark times hit, it is very tempting to rest on one's laurels and take the simplest way out. This can be anything from cutting corners at work, avoiding difficult conversations, or even extreme cases like joining the wrong crowd of people. But these easy solutions don't fix the problem; they delay it and, in some cases, make it worse in the long run. In the dark moments of one's life, true courage is often found by continuing to do what's right and ignoring easy temptation.

3 "Words Are, in My Not-So-Humble Opinion, Our Most Inexhaustible Source of Magic. Capable of Both Inflicting Injury and Remedying It."

While speaking to Dumbledore in the spectral Kings Cross Station, Harry laments his current situation, as even if he were to go back to the land of the living, Voldemort still has the all-powerful Elder Wand and his last Horcrux, Nagini. When Harry says that he has no way of destroying her, Dumbledore reminds him that help is always available at Hogwarts for those who ask. Before Dumbledore amends the statement to those deserving, he says this beautiful quote.

Dumbledore's comments about words are true, especially in today's digital world, where people communicate with one another over e-mails, tweets, and texts. Words have the power to build people up and create beautiful tapestries of emotion and power , but they can just as easily destroy and drag people down dark paths. This quote thus serves as a reminder of the power of words and how people must be wise in how they use them and with what intent.

2 “It Does Not Do to Dwell on Dreams and Forget to Live.”

'harry potter and the philosopher's stone' (2001).

When Harry stumbles upon the Mirror of Erised, he spends many nights sitting in front of it and seeing his parents alive and standing on either side of him. One night, Dumbledore tells him the truth about the mirror: it shows people their greatest desires but offers no knowledge or truth. Dumbledore then tells Harry that the mirror is to be moved to a new location and warns him not to go looking for it with the above quote.

This is another fantastic Dumbledore quote that is enhanced thanks to his long life and many regrets . When telling Harry not to dwell on dreams, Dumbledore is speaking from experience; he, too, is someone who would love nothing more than to achieve that which he cannot and make amends for his past failings. However, when one focuses entirely on dreams and tries to achieve that which cannot be changed, they let the joys of life pass them by, which is another strong lesson for young audience members to take away.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

1 "it is not our abilities that show what we truly are. it is our choices.", 'harry potter and the chamber of secrets' (2002).

At the conclusion of Harry's second year at Hogwarts, Dumbledore addresses his fears regarding his similarities to Voldemort. Since they both have the power to talk to snakes, Harry wonders if perhaps he should have been sorted into Slytherin House . When Dumbledore asks him why he was placed in Gryffindor instead, Harry says it's because he asked the hat to do so, and Dumbledore follows up with this quote.

This quote touches upon one of the key elements of Harry Potter, that being that destiny is whatever one makes it. Harry and Voldemort are indeed very similar, but while Voldemort chose to use his talents to dominate the wizarding world and spread pureblood supremacy, Harry chose instead to help those in need and stand up for what is right. He is Voldemort's true nemesis, not because of any prophecy, but because Harry is naturally someone who would oppose him. This same logic applies to Dumbledore himself, who could have easily become a dark wizard like his best friend, Gellert Grindelwald, but instead chose to use his talents to shape the next generation of wizards.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

NEXT: This Is Why the Harry Potter Prequel Saga 'Fantastic Beasts' Failed

• Harry Potter

How to Watch the Harry Potter Movies in Chronological Order

A lthough there are many folks out there who think the books were better than their film adaptations, the Harry Potter movies have become an essential part of the franchise. The film universe has even extended beyond the original series with 3 addtional Fantastic Beast prequels that introduced us to a new part of the wizarding world. Now that Hogwarts Legacy is available to play, it's a good time to revisit the Potter timeline to see where everything fits.

Whether you're new to the series or have just forgotten the proper order of the films, we've got you covered with our guides below. Take a look at how to watch the Harry Potter movies in chronological order or by release date.

• How to watch in chronological order
• How to watch by release order

How Many Harry Potter Movies are There?

Although there were only 7 books in the original series, there are a total of 11 movies in the Harry Potter franchise . This includes 8 films based on the books (2 parts for the Deathly Hallows) and 3 Fantastic Beasts prequels. Outside of the films there is a Broadway play called Harry Potter and the Cursed Child as well as quite a lot of Harry Potter games -- including Hogwarts Legacy.

Harry Potter: 8 Film Collection [4K UHD + Blu-Ray]

How long to watch all of the movies.

If you want to exclude the Fantastic Beasts movies from your streaming marathon, you can watch all 8 of the Harry Potter movies in just under 20 hours . Adding in the prequel films will add another 6 hours and 49 minutes to that total.

Where Does Hogwarts Legacy Fit in the Harry Potter Timeline?

Hogwarts Legacy takes place before any of the mainline movies sometime around the 1890s. For context, the Fantastic Beasts movies begin in the 1920s and the Harry Potter films start in the 1990s. And although it takes place before the films, there are quite a few last names in Hogwarts Legacy you'll recognize from the books and movies and Hogwarts Castle is pretty much exactly the same.

The Harry Potter Movies in Chronological Order

1. fantastic beasts and where to find them (2016).

Set all the way back in 1926, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them was the first Harry Potter spin-off prequel to hit theaters. Considering it takes place around 70 years before Harry starts school at Hogwarts, it is the first film you'll want to watch if you're going by chronological order. The first Fantastic Beasts film focuses on Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) as he navigates his way through New York and the magical underpinnings of the United States.

Read our review of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

Where to Watch: Max to stream, Apple TV+ and Amazon Prime Video to rent

2. Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (2018)

Just a few months after the end of the first prequel, Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald takes us back to England and features even more tie-ins to the original Harry Potter Movies. We get a look at a young Albus Dumbledore (Jude Law) and even get introduced to a youthful Minderva McGonagall (Fiona Glascott). The film itself largely focuses on the villain revealed in the first movie, Gellert Grindelwald (Johnny Depp).

Read our review of The Crimes of Grindelwald

Where to Watch: Max to stream, AppleTV+ and Amazon Prime Video to rent

3. Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore (2022)

Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore is the first film in the Fantastic Beasts series that sees a true time jump. Set 5 years after the events of The Crimes of Grindelwald, the third film in the Fantastic Beasts series largely focuses on Grindelwald himself once again -- who is actually played by Mads Mikkelsen this time. There are a few time jumps due to a creature named Qilin, but most of the movie is set in the 1930s.

Read our review of The Secrets of Dumbledore .

4. Harry Potter and The Sorcerer's Stone (2001)

Harry Potter and The Sorcerer's Stone is the first film in the original series. And while the majority of the film takes place in 1991, the true start of the film is technically 1980 -- the year when Harry was born and Hagrid drops him of at the Dursley residence. Since this is the first Harry Potter movie released, it gives us our first look at Harry (Daniel Radcliffe), Hermione Granger (Emma Watson), and Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint) as well as our initial forray into wizarding world through a Muggle lens.

See more about The Sorcerer's Stone .

Where to Watch: Max and Peacock to stream, AppleTV+ and Amazon Prime Video to rent

5. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002)

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets is the second film released in the franchise and thus follows Harry's second year at Hogwarts. This places the movie between 1992 and 1993 as Harry uncovers truths of the past from giant spiders and a young ghost-like Voldemort. It also gives us our first indroduction to Professor Gilderoy Lockhart (Kenneth Branagh) and Dobby the House Elf.

See more about The Chamber of Secrets .

6. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban is the third film in the original series and coincides with Harry's third year of classes at Hogwarts -- taking place in 1993. This is the first film where we start to truly see the darker side of the wizarding world as we get introduced to the likes of Sirius Black (Gary Oldman) and Peter Pettigrew (Timothy Spall). We also get an introduction to werewolves from the new Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor, Remus Lupin (David Thewlis), and of course the creepy soul-sucking Dementors of Azkaban.

Read our review of The Prisoner of Azkaban .

7. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005)

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire is the fourth movie in the original series and coincides with Harry's fourth year at Hogwarts. Taking place in 1994, The Goblet of Fire breathes new life into Hogwarts with the addition of the Triwizard Tournament and the Yule Ball. We get introduced to new important characters like Mad Eye Moody (Brendand Gleeson) and Cedric Diggory (Robert Pattinson). We also get our first look at a professional Quidditch tournament as well as members and faculty from other wizarding schools. This also the first film Harry comes face to face with a fully alive Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes).

Read our review of The Goblet of Fire .

8. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007)

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is the fifth film in the original series and takes place in 1995. Harry starts his fifth year of Hogwarts with a newfound family of sorts and we get our first look at some of the other members of The Order of the Phoenix like the shapeshifting Nymphadora Tonks (Natalia Tena). We also get our first introduction to Luna Lovegood (Evanna Lynch), who plays an important role in the coming films. There is also a new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor with a penchant for cruelty that everyone gets to hate, Delores Umbridge (Imelda Staunton).

Read our review of The Order of the Phoenix .

9. Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince (2009)

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince is the sixth film to be released and takes place in 1996. As Harry enters his sixth year at Hogwarts school for witchcraft and wizardry, he is starting to truly grow up after being faced with even more death. In this film we get our first true look into the motives of Severus Snape (Alan Rickman) and Draco Malfoy (Tom Felton). We also get to see Voldemort and the Deatheaters fully on the loose as Dumbledore reveals more secrets about the prophecy Harry is a part of. Although this film starts to get pretty dark, it's also where we see more of Ginny Weasley (Bonnie Wright) and expand her relationship with Harry.

Read our review of The Half Blood Prince .

10. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 1 (2010)

Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows Part 1 takes place in 1997 and coincides with the seventh and final book in the series. This is the first film that breaks up the story of a single book into two movies, and for good reason as there's a lot of story to unpack. In what would have been Harry's seventh year at Hogwarts, Harry, Hermione, and Ron instead set out into the real world to find and destroy Horcruxes. With quite a bit of action and deep character growth between Harry, Ron, and Hermione it's clear the franchise is reaching it's climax here. We also get a deeper look at the relationships between Voldemort and the rest of the Death Eaters.

Read our review of The Deathly Hallows - Part 1 .

11. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2 (2011)

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 is the final movie in the Harry Potter series chronologically. Set in 1998, this film is a continuation of part 1 starting right where the previous film left off. As Harry and his friends reveal more information about the prophecy Harry is part of, they eventually make their way back to Hogwarts for a final showdown against Voldemort and the Deatheaters. It's an emotional battle that ends in the death of a some fan favorite Harry Potter characters , but we do get to see the true heroics of Neville Longbottom (Matthew Lewis) and a rather definitive end to story.

Read our review of The Deathly Hallows - Part 2 .

How to Watch Harry Potter Movies By Release Date

• Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001)
• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002)
• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)
• Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005)
• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007)
• Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince (2009)
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 1 (2010)
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2 (2011)
• Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016)
• Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (2018)
• Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore (2022)

The Future of Harry Potter

There are no current plans to make any new Harry Potter movies, and even the director of Fantastic Beasts admits to the pause in films. However, the franchise will continue to produce new content. It was announced in 2023 that there will be a new Harry Potter TV series based on the books. Set to release on Max in 2026 , the series will feature an entirely new cast.

Outside of the Wizarding World films, Daniel Radcliffe executive produced a documentary about his former Harry Potter stunt double , who was left paralyzed after an accident. The documentary, titled David Holmes: The Boy Who Lived , was released in late 2023. Additionally, the success of Hogwarts Legacy has led to the developers teasing a Hogwarts Legacy 2 , which would expand the Hogwarts prequel timeline even further.

Looking for more movies like Harry Pottter ? Check out our guide on how to watch Lord of the Rings in order as well as our guide to Star Wars in order . And if you're looking for merch, check out our collection of Harry Potter Merchandise from the IGN store.

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Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban Forever Changed the Series

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Remember the good old days when a new Harry Potter movie or book arrived seemingly every year to provide us with whimsical, youthful entertainment? From 1997 until 2011, JK Rowling’s Boy Who Lived dominated all facets of pop culture and, in many ways, paved the way for the now tiresome cinematic universe template followed by nearly every major film studio. The first two installments, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets , introduced us to the enchanting Wizarding World. The third chapter, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, takes a daring turn, steering the boy wizard towards a darker path.

This shift deepened the series’ lore and raised the stakes significantly for our beloved trio —Harry, Ron, and Hermione. Interestingly, this was also true for the film adaptations.

Life Before Azkaban

In 1997, JK Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone hit store shelves, igniting a global phenomenon and selling over 120 million copies. A year later, the author conjured more gold with the sequel Chamber of Secrets, followed quickly by Prisoner of Azkaban in 1998.

Admittedly, I was late to the party. My mom purchased Sorcerer’s Stone in the summer of 1999 and urged me to give it a shot. Immediately, I was swept away by this strange new universe of witches, goblins, and wizards structured around a Hardy Boys-like mystery involving the evil Lord Voldemort. Harry, Ron, and Hermione were likable, bite-sized versions of Han, Luke, and Leia, albeit outfitted with wands and broomsticks instead of lightsabers and spaceships. I wanted more. Luckily, Chamber of Secrets waited at the local bookstore for my eager eyes to devour.

Chamber lacked the narrative thrust of its predecessor and felt like more of a rehash than a novelty. Our heroes once again find themselves caught in a mystery and must solve the case before it’s too late. Moreover, Chamber felt like a children’s story — which it was — and seemed to lack the darker elements that made Sorcerer’s Stone so gripping. I may have even tossed the book aside for a spell, returning to it only after others urged me along.

I don’t know what summoned me to Azkaban. Maybe a friend recommended it, or perhaps Chamber hit a nerve in its final chapters, prompting me to continue Harry’s quest. At any rate, I purchased the third book in Rowling’s franchise and couldn’t put it down. Where Sorcerer’s Stone piqued my interest, Prisoner of Azkaban hooked me for life. Dark, thrilling, and surprising, the third installment knocked me off my feet with its clever twists and turns, mature tone, and exciting action. I read it multiple times that summer.

The five remaining books likewise darkened the tone and further expanded the Wizarding World. As good as they were — and they were all pretty damned great — none had the same impact as Prisoner of Azkaban. The book changed the franchise for the better, introducing critical aspects to the story (notably important information about Harry’s father, James, and his slippery rival, Snape), essential characters, and the fragility of adolescence. To quote Ron, it’s “bloody brilliant.”

The Movie Series

Hollywood sniffed success, launching a bidding war that ultimately ended with Warner Bros. obtaining the rights to Harry Potter. The studio asked Steven Spielberg to direct the first adaptation and, after he said no, turned to Chris Columbus.

The Home Alone director quickly went to work and presented Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone on Christmas of 2001. Predictably, the first entry proved a massive success, earning $974.8M worldwide (or $1.4 billion today). Chamber of Secrets likewise struck box office gold, collecting $879.5M in 2002.

Critical reaction to the first two chapters was positive but tepid. Many agreed that Columbus effectively captured Rowling’s magic but didn’t add anything to the material. His films dutifully recreated the novels, crafting fun but safe adaptations that never ventured too far from the source material.

Surprisingly, Columbus vacated the director’s chair after this hot start. In his place, Warner Bros. tapped acclaimed director Alfonso Cuarón, known for helming mature pictures such as 2001’s Y Tu Mamá También.

Two years later, Prisoner of Azkaban soared into theaters to tremendous acclaim. Critics lauded Cuarón’s more pronounced visual style, the performances of Daniel Radcliff, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint, and a creative approach that shifted the series from staunch retread to a magical world of endless possibilities.

Cuarón makes his presence known from the bouncy opening titles. His camera zips in and out of Harry’s bedroom as our young hero practices magic spells:

The next scene gives us our first shot at Harry, no longer a cute, bespectacled toddler. Our hero is now taller, ganglier, unkempt, and grumpier. Cuarón’s cinematography is gloomier and edgier, presenting a restless, even dangerous world where villains linger in the shadows, and even the majesty of Hogwarts offers no illusions of safety.

Cuarón isn’t afraid to delve into the weird either, concocting outlandish characters, action sequences, and exchanges that hit more profoundly than before. In Azkaban, people aren’t merely reciting lines from Rowling’s text; they live in this fanciful universe. When Harry, having learned that Sirius Black (Gary Oldman) murdered his parents, announces his intentions to kill the escaped prisoner, we believe him.

As Rowling accomplished in 1999, Cuarón reimagines Harry Potter into something more akin to a dark fantasy. John Williams’ score (the best of the series, in my opinion) leans on heavier and more robust themes. Even the game of Quidditch is used less to show off impressive special effects than another opportunity to underline the darkness within our hero.

Characters like Dumbledore (Michael Gambon, taking over from the late Richard Harris) and Professor McGonagall (Maggie Smith) lack the playful twinkle seen in earlier pictures. Newcomers Professor Lupin (a terrific David Thewlis), Peter Pettigrew (Timothy Spall), and Professor Trelawney (Emma Thompson) are strange in appearance and fouler in conversation. Hogwarts is less a magical wonderland than a foreboding structure drenched in shadows and surrounded by strange secrets.

Azkaban sold the fewest tickets of any Harry Potter film ($738.2M worldwide), and understandably so—it’s probably too quirky for audiences who had grown accustomed to Columbus’ wholesome approach. Cuarón’s world is lovely to look at but chock full of peril, as seen in the terrific sequence where the Whomping Willow kills an innocent bird.

The third chapter pushed the Harry Potter film series in a fantastic new direction. Subsequent films adhered to its visual template and replicated its views of teenage angst while simultaneously exploring the complications of war. Ultimately, every director received their marching orders from the great JK Rowling. Still, Cuarón was the first willing to fully embrace every nuance of her enchanting universe, pulling back the curtain to reveal the creepy details lurking on the outside.

And come on, this bit with Harry (stuck in a complex time loop) is the stuff of legends:

Prisoner of Azkaban’s Legacy

That said, I do enjoy the first two Harry Potter pictures. In fact, I think you need Columbus’ pictures to fully experience the sudden shift in Cuarón’s film. What starts as a wondrous, childish escape into the unknown devolves into a nightmare, forcing our heroes to grow up quickly to battle the forces of evil. The first three films lay the groundwork for the remaining entries aesthetically and thematically, allowing us to view this ever-changing landscape through Harry’s eyes.

Essentially, Sorcerer’s Stone and Chamber of Secrets are the original Star Wars, with all its bombast and hope. In that case, Azkaban marks the Empire Strikes Back for Harry Potter or the chapter that added more substance to the magic and dared to dream a little bigger.

Twenty years later, I’d like to thank JK Rowling and Alfonso Cuarón for crafting this astonishing piece of cinema, which is now streaming on Max .

The post Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban Forever Changed the Series appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More .

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Harry potter: 15 best dobby quotes.

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The Potterverse: All The Wizarding World Films In Chronological Order

Harry potter: one quote from each character that perfectly sums up their personality, harry potter: 10 facts you didn't know about dobby the house elf.

• Dobby's quotes offer comedic relief from dark storylines, showcasing his pure soul & loyalty to Harry.
• From socks to friendship, Dobby's memorable quotes evoke laughter and tears from fans.
• Dobby's final words in Deathly Hallows affirm his happiness with Harry, a touching moment in the franchise.

The best Dobby quotes showcase why the house-elf is one of the most beloved characters in the Harry Potter franchise. While he doesn't appear in the films quite as much as he does in the books, Dobby (voiced by Toby Jones in the Harry Potter movies) still manages to stand out. Almost everything that he says is memorable and ranges from the inspiring and powerful, to the darkly comedic, to the incredibly tragic, and each quote has remained stood out to viewers.

The best Dobby quotes act as a reminder that the house-elf is a pure soul who offers viewers comedic relief from some of the darkest storylines in the franchise by being almost constantly hilarious whenever he's on-screen. Even though it's just about impossible to forget how heartbreaking the end of Dobby's story was in the Harry Potter franchise, the best Dobby quotes will always bring a smile to the faces of longtime fans, even if they have to remind fans of the tear-jerking scene where the loyal house-elf has to say goodbye for the last time.

All the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts films from WB and J K Rowling - from the Fantastic Beasts of the 20s to the Deathly Hallows.

15 “Harry Potter. Such An Honor It Is, Sir!”

Harry potter and the chamber of secrets (2002).

Dobby’s first line in both the books and the movies comes in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, and it's simply him expresses his awe at meeting Harry Potter. Harry is no stranger to witches and wizards being taken aback by seeing him in the flesh, but no introduction is quite as strange as when a star-struck house-elf appears at Number 4, Privet Drive.

Dobby, like most of the wizarding world, is aware of who Harry is before Harry even knows he’s a wizard. As Dobby points out to Harry at one point, Harry’s “defeat” of Voldemort as a baby means that a lot of older wizarding families start to treat their house-elves much better than before. Though Dobby might still be treated poorly by the Malfoy family , he is already grateful to Harry for the way things changed for other house-elves.

14 "Dobby Has Heard Of Your Greatness, Sir, But Never Has He Been Asked To Sit Down By A Wizard! Like An Equal."

Many of the best Dobby quotes comes from his introductory scene in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, and this includes one of his most heartbreaking lines, as it exposes just how bad a lot in life the house-elf has. B eing a house-elf of a Death Eater, Dobby has had a horrible time during his life of servitude.

So bad is the treatment Dobby is used to that when he meets Harry Potter for the first time and Harry offers him a seat, the house-elf starts crying from shock.

So bad is the treatment Dobby is used to that when he meets Harry Potter for the first time and Harry offers him a seat, the house-elf starts crying from shock. It's absurd how little kindness it takes for Dobby to start crying, so this Dobby quote made the audience aware of the position of house-elves in society. It also marks Harry's greatness as more than just what happened to him as a baby, as his compassion for others is what drives him to save the wizarding world.

13 “Socks Are Dobby’s Favorite, Favorite Clothes, Sir! I Has Seven Now, Sir. . . . But Sir … They Has Made A Mistake In The Shop, Harry Potter, They Is Giving You Two The Same!”

Harry potter and the goblet of fire, the novel.

Clothing is a big deal for house-elves, especially Dobby, who spends the majority of his life prior to meeting Harry wearing nothing but a dirty pillowcase. The very first item of clothing that Dobby is presented with, in both the Chamber of Secrets novel and movie, is a sock. As a result, socks become Dobby’s favorite item of clothing, and he has a large collection of them as a free elf. This obsession also led to one of the most adorable Dobby quotes.

When Harry gives him a pair of old socks for Christmas in the Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire novel, however, Dobby is shocked to find that the socks match as he’s been under the impression that each one is unique. It’s a sweet moment that highlights how sheltered Dobby has been prior to his freedom, since he doesn’t know about something so simple despite living and working with wizards his entire life.

12 “And If Dobby Does It Wrong, Dobby Will Throw Himself Off The Topmost Tower, Harry Potter!”

Harry potter and the half-blood prince, the novel.

There are many darkly comedic Dobby quotes throughout the Harry Potter franchise, with the house-elf being (unintentionally, of course) hilarious when he displays his tendency to engage in self-flagellation — even after he gains his freedom. Dobby is unflinchingly loyal to Harry Potter. There’s nothing he wouldn’t do for the teenage wizard during their short friendship, but he’s also used to having to punish himself when he disobeys the family that used to hold him in servitude.

Harry doesn’t need his allies flinging themselves off the Astronomy tower if they aren’t able to complete a task, and he has to make that clear to Dobby multiple times.

As a result, nearly every time Dobby decides to help Harry, he also makes comments about punishing himself if he does it incorrectly, which unnerves Harry a great deal. Harry doesn’t need his allies flinging themselves off the Astronomy tower if they aren’t able to complete a task, and he has to make that clear to Dobby multiple times.

11 “ Dobby Only Wants Harry Potter To Be Safe.”

Throughout his first film appearance in 2002's Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets , Dobby proves to be somewhat of an annoyance to Harry Potter. He creates a slew of problems that either get Harry in massive trouble or result in actual injury. In a way, Dobby is an antagonist in the film and even acts like somewhat of a jerk. He's directly responsible for many of the hardships Harry faces throughout the second movie, including when he breaks his arm during a quidditch match and subsequently loses all the bones in his arm.

However, despite the questionable nature of the house-elf's approach to keeping Harry Potter "safe", audiences can't help but sympathize with Dobby due to this quote, which he speaks forlornly. While he has an interesting concept of "safety", Dobby isn't malicious. In fact, he is only acting in such a destructive way because he cares about Harry Potter and wants to do the right thing.

10 “Bad Dobby! Bad Dobby!”

The Harry Potter franchise isn't really one for catchphrases, though several characters do have repeated lines that come close — and this Dobby quote is definitely one of the character's most well-known. The house-elf yells and scolds himself whenever he does something he assumes he shouldn't have, and then attempts to bang his head on any surface he can find.

While "bad Dobby" makes for some very funny moments, it also gives a somewhat chilling glimpse into his life when still in the service of the Malfoy family.

While it takes the audience by surprise at first, it becomes both humorous and a little tragic to watch. It's just chaotic enough to make Dobby appear as a comedic character, while also showing the terrible situation that house-elves are in, constantly feeling that they need to obey their master and punish themselves for any defiance. While "bad Dobby" makes for some very funny moments, it also gives a somewhat chilling glimpse into his life when still in the service of the Malfoy family.

Each main Harry Potter character has at least one truly wonderful and memorable quote that perfectly sums up the character's personality.

9 "Terrible Things Are About To Happen At Hogwarts. Harry Potter Must Not Stay Here, Now That History Is To Repeat Itself."

There are several Dobby quotes that highlight the fact that the house-elf is actually much smarter and more clued-in than he first appears — much to the surprise of many other characters (including Dobby himself, who would probably be the last to pay himself a compliment). For example, Dobby is one of the few characters who fully understands the ramifications of the opening of the Chamber of Secrets. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets is one of the franchise's scariest movies , and it's filled with suspense and foreboding.

Dobby is the first to create this atmosphere when he warns Harry that he must not stay at Hogwarts because of terrible things to come. He then tries to get Harry kicked out of Hogwarts multiple times throughout the year, which he justifies by his fear that Harry is in danger. Dobby's hint of history repeating itself also creates great tension and further mystery that drives the plot forward. It builds suspense around all the characters, both the victims and the suspects.

8 “You Shall Not Harm Harry Potter!”

If there was ever a moment in the Harry Potter franchise that has viewers cheering in support of a character, it's when Dobby finally stands up to his abusive former master in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. It's one of his most memorable moments in the Harry Potter franchise occurs in Chamber of Secrets even though the movie is full of memorable Dobby quotes, and is perhaps the most uplifting scene featuring the house-elf.

It’s the first time the audience sees the kind of powerful magic that Dobby has, magic he hasn’t been able to use since he wasn’t a free elf before.

Just after Harry has hidden a sock in the book that Lucius Malfoy gives to Dobby, Lucius becomes incredibly angry that Harry has cost him a servant. The wizard tries to use his walking stick, which hides his wand, against Harry, but Dobby immediately comes to Harry’s defense. It’s the first time the audience sees the kind of powerful magic that Dobby has, magic he hasn’t been able to use since he wasn’t a free elf before.

7 “Dobby Is Used To Death Threats, Sir. Dobby Gets Them Five Times A Day At Home.”

Dobby is among the most popular Harry Potter characters because he manages to be tragic and funny at the same time. This Dobby quote is a perfect example of these qualities, as it's both an incredibly heartbreaking reveal from the house-elf and yet, at the same time, is very difficult not to laugh at. When Harry threatens Dobby over trying to get him kicked out of Hogwarts, Dobby simply shrugs it off because he's become completely numb to threats on his life.

It's sad because viewers can only wonder how much abuse the house-elf must be taking in order to not be bothered by death threats, but simultaneously, the nonchalance with which he says the quote can't help but elicit a laugh. This Dobby quote also hints at his bravery, as he is able to withstand any dangerous threat when he is trying to do the right thing.

6 “Master Has Given Dobby A Sock. Master Has Presented Dobby With Clothes! Dobby Is Free!”

This Dobby quote may not be the best, but it is arguably the most memorable thanks to how often it's still repeated online both inside and outside the core Harry Potter fandom. This is the Dobby quote that has been memed countless times in the 20 years that Chamber of Secrets has been out. In the movie, Dobby is still enslaved by the Malfoy family, but if a house-elf is presented with clothes, they are freed, so Harry tricks Malfoy into freeing Dobby by hiding a sock in a book.

It's a lovely moment for Dobby, as all the torment that the house-elf has had to endure is now over.

It's a lovely moment for Dobby, as all the torment that the house-elf has had to endure is now over. It also shows how much Harry cares about Dobby, and since he spends the majority of the movie being annoyed by him, it marks a significant amount of growth. Dobby's ecstatic cries of freedom will always be one of the best Harry Potter franchise quotes from any character.

5 "Dobby Has No Master. Dobby Is A Free Elf, And Dobby Has Come To Save Harry Potter And His Friends!”

Harry potter and the deathly hallows: part 1 (2010).

Between the second and seventh Harry Potter movies, film fans may have missed Dobby even more than book fans did, since his appearances are scarce — Dobby appeared much more frequently in the Harry Potter novels, but many of his key scenes were cut. This lack of Dobby meant that, when he shows up to save the Golden Trio from the Death Eaters in Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows: Part 1 , it's a wondrous surprise.

When Dobby returned in the penultimate Harry Potter movie, it was clear how much he'd grown since leaving the service of the Malfoys and becoming a free elf. The Death Eaters and the Malfoys are shocked at his appearance, with Bellatrix yelling, " How dare you defy your masters! " But Dobby stands proudly and gives this cheer-worthy quote proclaiming his freedom while showing his bravery and strength. Sadly, it's one of the last few Dobby quotes from the franchise too.

4 “Sir? I Like Her Very Much.”

Many of the best Dobby quotes are funny, which is why he's such a fan-favorite Harry Potter character. Another character who shares this quality is Luna Lovegood , who is often a source of levity whenever she appears. It's no surprise then that when the pair finally interact with one-another in Harry Potter and the Death Hallows: Part 1, it leads to some incredibly funny dialogue.

It also marks how much Dobby has grown because, while he used to consistently hate and punish himself, he now appreciates it when people show him respect.

When Dobby is helping prisoners of the Death Eaters escape, this includes Luna Lovegood, and she says to him, " Whenever you’re ready, Sir. " This prompts delight from Dobby, prompting a funny line that adds some levity to the tense situation that the characters are in. It also marks how much Dobby has grown because, while he used to consistently hate and punish himself, he now appreciates it when people show him respect.

Dobby the house-elf is one of the most lovable and tragic characters in the Harry Potter series, and here are 10 hidden details about him.

3 "Dobby Never Meant To Kill! Dobby Only Meant To Maim, Or Seriously Injure!”

When Dobby is attacking Bellatrix Lestrange, she cries out in disgust that the " stupid " elf could have killed her and Dobby responds by yelling a quote in the only way that Dobby can: dark and yet still comedic. It's a mix of several elements of the house-elf that make his lines so memorable, as it shows a severe complete disregard to the concept of injury, and at the same time is incredibly defiant, with a dash of self-deprication thrown in for good measure.

This Dobby quote is a callback to how he tried to injure Harry in The Chamber Of Secrets , only now he's using the same sentiment to heroically save the day. It's also great to see such a small creature stand on his own against one of the most dangerous Death Eaters, though she proves this by throwing a knife at Dobby and killing him, one of the worst things Bellatrix ever did .

2 “[Dumbledore] Said We Is Free To Call Him A - A Barmy Old Codger If We Likes, Sir!”

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire cut many key Dobby moments when the book was adapted into a movie, meaning it missed an opportunity to include one of the best Dobby quotes from the entirety of the Harry Potter franchise. When Dobby first becomes a free elf, he does have a bit of a hard time finding work. He wants to maintain his freedom, but Dobby also genuinely enjoys working. He ends up at the one place he knows there is plenty of work to go around — Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Dumbledore is also an excellent boss, offering up more money than Dobby wants and vacation time that Dobby doesn’t want to take.

Dumbledore is also an excellent boss, offering up more money than Dobby wants and vacation time that Dobby doesn’t want to take. He is amused by Dumbledore encouraging Dobby to disagree with him and call him names, and he says as much to Harry in the Goblet of Fire novel, highlighting how different his life is after taking a job at Hogwarts compared to when he worked for the Malfoy family.

1 “What A Beautiful Place… To Be With Friends. Dobby Is Happy To Be With His Friend… Harry Potter.”

The best Dobby quote is memorable not because it's funny but because it's incredibly heartbreaking. There are several sad moments in the Harry Potter movies that have viewers reaching for the tissues, but few can match the moment when Dobby died in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1. Dobby's death is one of the saddest moments in the entire Harry Potter franchise simply because of how beloved the character is, and it is only made sadder by Dobby's last words.

At the end of the seventh film, Dobby dies in Harry's arms, meaning that at least Dobby is able to die in a place that makes him happy. His friendship with Harry had changed his life for the better, so it's fitting that Harry is mentioned in Dobby's dying breath. It was an incredibly emotional send-off for the house-elf, and his parting words summed up everything that made his story so endearing from his first appearance in Harry Potter .

Harry Potter

Harry Potter is a multimedia franchise about an orphaned boy who enrolls at Hogwarts School of Wizardry, where he learns the truth about himself, his family, and the terrible evil that haunts the magical world. Adapted from the novels, Harry Potter is an eight-episode film saga that follows the journey of Harry Potter and his friends, Hermoine Granger and Ron Weasley, as they navigate the tricky world of growing up, school life, and magic. Starting from year one and moving to their seventh year, the films chronicle the students' time at Hogwarts while unfurling a sinister plot that centers around the unsuspecting Harry. With the return of the dark wizard, Voldemort, the students and professors at Hogwarts will fight to carry on as the world around them may change forever. Harry Potter has expanded beyond the world of its films and novels with several video games, a spin-off film series titled Fantastic Beasts, and even attractions at Universal Studios.