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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 .

Where to Watch

Videos and photos.

Community Reviews

• Parents say (63)
• Kids say (257)

Based on 63 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 and the Chamber of Secrets

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Watch Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets with a subscription on Peacock, Max, rent on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, Apple TV, or buy on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, Apple TV.

What to Know

Though perhaps more enchanting for younger audiences, Chamber of Secrets is nevertheless both darker and livelier than its predecessor, expanding and improving upon the first film's universe.

Audience Reviews

Cast & crew.

Chris Columbus

Daniel Radcliffe

Harry Potter

Rupert Grint

Ron Weasley

Emma Watson

Hermione Granger

Kenneth Branagh

Gilderoy Lockhart

John Cleese

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The Cinema Critic

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002) Review

Time: 161 Minutes Age Rating: Frightening fantasy scenes and violence. Cast: Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter Rupert Grint as Ron Weasley Emma Watson as Hermione Granger Kenneth Branagh as Gilderoy Lockhart John Cleese as Nearly Headless Nick Robbie Coltrane as Rubeus Hagrid Richard Griffiths as Vernon Dursley Richard Harris as Albus Dumbledore Jason Isaacs as…

It’s Year 2 at Hogwarts, and Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe), Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint) and Hermione Granger (Emma Watson) are back learning, but their year doesn’t go past quietly. Members of the school are turning up petrified and bloody writing are appearing on the walls, revealing to everyone, that someone has opened the chamber of secrets. The attacks continue, bringing the possibility of the closure of Hogwarts. Harry and his friends are now forced to secretly uncover the truth about the chamber before the school closes or any lives are taken.

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone was a huge hit for audiences, for both Harry Potter readers and those who weren’t. The next year, Chris Columbus would release the next film in the series, Chamber of Secrets, which is also pretty good, a film which I would consider to be slightly better than the Philosopher’s Stone, despite it feeling a little too long and drawn out at many points in the film.

In my last Harry Potter review, I mentioned how surprised I was at the length of the Philosopher’s Stone, at 2 hours and a half long. I’m even more shocked at the runtime for Chamber of Secrets, at 2 hours and 40 minutes long. I will say though, you can definitely feel the running time this time, some scenes can drag and some scenes can be rushed, and it definitely feels like a long movie this time round. Chamber of Secrets is not complicated but it’s not as simple as Philosopher’s Stone, with much more going on at the same time, and as nice as it was to see a lot of these scenes in the movie, maybe some of them should’ve been cut. The third act however was paced and handled suitably well for the most part. A good thing about this movie is that you can tell that Chamber of Secrets was done by the same director but there is a suitably darker tone that is necessary for the story. This is about a giant creature that petrifies (and sometimes) kills children after all. This also means a lot less of the camp and cheesiness that was present in the first movie (however the ending of the movie can be very cheesy). The movie also sets up and establishes things (unknowingly to audience members) that would come into play for future movies, and that’s something that the Harry Potter series does very well. There are some bits which, as a Harry Potter fan, slightly irked me, and I don’t usually have issues with differences to the books. For example, the disarming spell Expelliarmus is used as a stunning spell, while they aren’t anything really major, that can be very distracting.

The acting from the child actors is still not great but it has noticeably improved over the child acting in Philosopher’s Stone (and also despite the fact it’s just been a year, they all look much older). Also, the chemistry and friend dynamic between the 3 main leads (Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter, Rupert Grint as Ron Weasley and Emma Watson as Hermione Granger) is a lot better and more convincing. One issue I might bring up though is not an uncommon criticism, Ron is kind of a whiner and useless a lot of the time, particularly in this movie, Prisoner of Azkaban and Goblet of Fire. I know that some characters when adapted have to be simplified, but surely Ron could’ve come across as a little better than how he did here. Other returning actors, especially Alan Rickman as Severus Snape, Robbie Coltrane as Rubeus Hagrid and Richard Harris as Albus Dumbledore). We also have some new additions to the series. Kenneth Branagh was a perfect casting choice for Gilderoy Lockhart, he is really cartoonish, useless, over the top and annoying but it’s pretty much a perfect representation of the character (fun fact, Hugh Grant nearly played the role and he would’ve been great as well). Another great new casting choice was Jason Isaacs as Lucius Malfoy, Draco Malfoy’s (Tom Felton) father. He plays the role with such menace and is pretty memorable despite only being in a few scenes in Chamber of Secrets (that voice is pretty great and suits his character well. Also good was another new character Dobby, voiced by Toby Jones, perfect casting.

As I said before, you can tell that Chris Columbus directed Chamber of Secrets but it also has a darker tone to it, and this also extends to the direction. While there are lots of moments with brightness, the colour pallet also uses a lot of darker colours, the entire third act is dark and dark green. The production design is really great once again, the attention to detail was fantastic, especially the Chamber of Secrets. The visual effects are slightly better, it does have some weaker spots but there are a lot of things that still look pretty solid today. John William’s score is once again excellent, and his new additions to the Harry Potter soundtrack really pay off (the Fawkes theme being a standout).

I don’t know what the general reception that Chamber of Secrets has but I think I like it slightly more than Philosopher’s Stone (probably because of the darker story and tone). With that said, it does have some issues, with it feeling overlong and dragging at times. One of the weaker movies in the series but it’s still rather solid.

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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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• DVD & Streaming

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

• Action/Adventure , Sci-Fi/Fantasy

Content Caution

In Theaters

• Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter; Rupert Grint as Ron Weasley; Emma Watson as Hermione Granger; the late Richard Harris as Professor Dumbledore; Robbie Coltrane as Hagrid; Maggie Smith as Professor McGonagall; Jason Isaacs as Lucius Malfoy; Kenneth Branagh as Gilderoy Lockhart

Home Release Date

• Chris Columbus

Distributor

• Warner Bros.

Movie Review

They’ve grown taller. Their voices have begun to change. And they’re ready to take on the next big boarding school mystery. J.K. Rowling’s popular young wizard and his friends are back for their second year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.

Harry has passed a predictably miserable summer with his awful adoptive family—a holiday made all the worse by the interception of all correspondence from his school friends Ron and Hermione. To top it off, he receives an ominous visit from a house elf named Dobby. This digitally animated ascetic begs Harry not to return to school, warning that there is a plot afoot to harm or even kill the famous young wizard. But return Harry does, and discovers right away that evil is indeed lurking at Hogwarts. He repeatedly hears a sinister voice hissing, “Kill. Kill! I want blood!” Meanwhile, the new Defense against the Dark Arts teacher seems more interested in his perfect hairdo than in battling corruption. Threatening messages are being written on the school walls in blood. Students are turning up literally petrified, and many think Harry’s to blame. On top of that, his life is once again endangered by strange magic at a Quidditch match. And finally, Ron’s sister Ginny (who has a huge crush on Harry) winds up in the clutches of a nasty, conniving villain.

True to form, Ron, Harry and Hermione strive to stamp out the Dark Magic in their midst. They discover that centuries before, one of the school’s founders, Salazar Slytherin, had taken a racist vow that all prospective witches and wizards who didn’t possess “pure blood” would be banished from Hogwarts. To accomplish his vendetta, Slytherin endowed the school with a secret chamber and placed in it a monster that would violently eliminate “mudbloods,” or wizards of Muggle (non-magical) lineage. Not able to carry out his holocaust himself, he ensured that his heir would one day come to Hogwarts, open the chamber and finish destroying the mudbloods. From all the nasty business going on this term, it’s clear that the time has come and the chamber has been reopened. But even Harry and his mystery-solving pals are unprepared for what they find there.

positive elements: Vanity is decried when Defense against the Dark Arts teacher Gilderoy Lockhart is exposed for a fraud. Prejudice is likewise put down with the defeat of the chamber’s monster and its racist mission. Even though he’s a famous wizard, Harry acts with humility and kindness toward lowly house elf Dobby. Friendship and loyalty are praised as the relationship between Harry, Hermione and Ron grows. Harry’s loyalty to wise professor Dumbledore proves to be a key factor in his battle with the chamber’s monster.

Harry once again doubts his own character, upset by the fact that he has several skills in common with the Dark Lord Voldemort, who tried to kill him as a baby. But when he questions Dumbledore about almost having been placed in the dark-leaning Slytherin House, Dumbledore reminds him that the main reason he wasn’t is that he asked not to be. “It is not our abilities that show what we truly are. It is our choices.” A good lesson about the rightful use of any talent, and how one’s character is not predetermined, but forged on a daily basis.

spiritual content: Magic, used for good or for evil, is the cornerstone of this movie. Ron and his brothers ride in a flying car. The Weasley family travels using magic dust called “floo powder.” Harry and his friends take classes in Potions, Herbology and Defense Against the Dark Arts. Professors Snape and Lockhart lead their pupils in a Dueling Club, teaching them to disarm enemies with magic spells. Ron’s broken wand continually causes his spells to backfire on him. Harry hones his skills as a Parseltongue (one who can speak to snakes). In a game of Quidditch, someone curses a ball so it will chase and injure Harry. Harry and his friends spend lots of time conversing with Moaning Myrtle, the whiny ghost of a student who was murdered in the girls’ restroom. They also transform themselves temporarily into the likenesses of other students with a “polyjuice potion.” Dumbledore’s pet, Fawkes the phoenix, has healing power in his tears. [ Spoiler Warning ] Ginny is put into a trance by a villain because she has been pouring her heart out in a magical diary. Later, Harry defeats the villain because his loyalty to Dumbledore magically calls help to his side.

sexual content: None.

violent content: Far too much for a movie that will be seen by children as young as 6 or 7. Uncle Vernon falls from a second-story window. A “whomping willow” tree tries to whomp Harry and Ron to death. Harry, traveling by floo powder for the first time, accidentally winds up in a dark room with piles of shrunken heads. Harry and Ron are almost run down by a train. Filch, the school’s caretaker, threatens to kill Harry. A Quidditch match turns violent (several players are knocked from their flying brooms and Harry’s arm is badly broken). Dobby often “punishes” himself as a reminder of his subservient position. Punishments include beating himself in the head (shown) and ironing his hands (not shown). Myrtle punches Ron (of course, it doesn’t hurt him because she’s a ghost). An enormous nasty spider grabs Ron by the neck. Many smaller but equally nasty spiders menace Ron and Harry, and threaten to eat them. Ron and Harry are nearly buried in a rockslide. Ron knocks out a professor with a stone.

Most disturbing are Harry’s encounters with the chamber’s monster. First, he merely hears the beast chanting, “Kill. Kill. It’s time to kill,” and “Let me rip you. Let me tear you!” Later, he meets it (and its master) face to face. [ Spoiler Warning ] In the ensuing battle, the monster’s eyes are gouged out and Harry attacks it with a sword, only to have one of its giant fangs implanted in his forearm. The monster’s master is destroyed when Harry repeatedly stabs the magic diary that is the source of his power. Ink bubbles out of the diary, but only those familiar with the book will know that; moviegoers will think it’s blood (as if Harry were stabbing the villain himself).

crude or profane language: Ron takes a liking to the phrase, “Bloody h—!” He uses it a handful of times. Harry’s Uncle Vernon utters a muffled, “What the h— was that?”

drug and alcohol content: None.

other negative elements: Some gross-out elements are included, the most difficult to watch being an extended scene in which one of Ron’s spells backfires and he ends up vomiting live slugs into a bucket. Also, Ron’s father works for the Ministry of Magic, and his job is to ensure that wizards don’t misuse “Muggle artifacts.” In spite of that, Mr. Weasley is fascinated with Muggles and himself illegally uses many of their inventions.

A disturbing theme carried over from the first movie is disregard for rules. It could be argued that Harry and his friends are simply taking extraordinary risks justified by extraordinary danger. But the film makes it seem that Harry and company are being rewarded because they broke the rules rather than in spite of their disobedience.

conclusion: The success of the first Harry Potter movie—and the expected success of this sequel—lies in their extreme faithfulness to the books. Of course, some details are omitted so as not to make a very long movie even longer. But director Chris Columbus knew that the artistic license usually taken with movies based on books would be a recipe for disaster in the case of Harry Potter , which has made avid readers out of millions. That said, it’s no surprise that there are really no surprises here. And nothing that will change many minds. The battle lines have already been drawn regarding Harry Potter ’s treatment of magic. Those who thought it was harmless hocus pocus before will likely continue to think so. The same goes for those already convinced that it’s an instructive depiction of the occult. What will be easy for both sides to agree on is that the violence and fear-factors in this movie are quite inappropriate for the younger portion of Harry ’s intended audience. Moms and dads who wish to ward off the curse of nightmares should keep their kids out of The Chamber of Secrets.

Lindy Keffer

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FILM REVIEW

FILM REVIEW; An Older, Wiser Wizard, But Still That Crafty Lad

By A. O. Scott

• Nov. 15, 2002

ABOUT an hour into ''Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets,'' Harry (more often referred to as Mr. Potter or the Famous Harry Potter) discovers, much to his amazement, that he can speak the slithery, sibilant language of snakes, which is called Parseltongue. For the audience, a similar shock arrives much earlier, the very first time Daniel Radcliffe, the young English actor who plays everybody's favorite English schoolboy wizard, opens his mouth. Though Mr. Radcliffe remains smooth-faced and wide-eyed, his voice (like that of Rupert Grint, who plays Harry's pal Ron Weasley, and Tom Felton, as the odious Draco Malfoy), has begun to break, and he speaks in the unmistakable, awkward tongue of adolescence.

But ''Harry Potter and the Onset of Puberty'' may have to wait for the next installment, when Alfonso Cuarón takes over the franchise from Chris Columbus, who directed this episode and its predecessor, ''Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.'' Mr. Cuarón, whose most recent film was the moving and irrepressible teenage sex comedy ''Y Tu Mamá También,'' may be the perfect man for the job, though parents worried about an unrated, sexually explicit ''Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban'' should remember that Mr. Cuarón also directed a superb adaptation of ''The Little Princess.''

In any case, Mr. Columbus, once again working with the screenwriter Steve Kloves and a cast of talented children (especially Emma Watson, who plays the brainy and intrepid Hermione) and grown-up British luminaries, has acquitted himself honorably. ''Sorcerer's Stone,'' while far from a great movie, was good enough. Mr. Columbus (who is also an executive producer of the films) has faced the unenviable and unusual challenge of adapting books most of the audience will have read closely and recently. And a very demanding audience it is. My fellow critics and I may occasionally fault a movie for departing, in detail or in spirit, from its literary source, but the grousing of a few adult pedants is nothing compared to the wrath of several million bookish 10-year-olds.

Their presumed demands, and the hovering spirit of Harry's creator, J. K. Rowling, inhibit this movie as it did the first Potter film. Near the end of this one, Albus Dumbledore (Richard Harris, in his last screen performance) sternly notes that Harry and Ron have broken at least a dozen rules in the code book of their school, Hogwarts, and then gives them a special award for service to the institution. Until the filmmakers absorb this lesson and show themselves willing to risk getting into trouble, no special awards are likely to be forthcoming for them. But passing grades will at least earn them their allowances. Because it is based on a richer, more interesting book -- so far Ms. Rowling's novelistic skills have grown, along with her ambitions, with each successive volume -- and partly because the director shows more dexterity and imagination of his own, ''Chamber of Secrets,'' which opens nationwide today, is a little better than ''Sorcerer's Stone.''

And at 2 hours 41 minutes, quite a bit longer. Ms. Rowling has been loudly praised for sparking the younger generation's renewed interest in reading, and Mr. Columbus may soon be credited with curing its notoriously short attention span. At this rate ''Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire,'' the 752-page fourth volume, is likely to spawn the highest-grossing seven-hour film epic in history. (Too bad Erich von Stroheim isn't around to direct it.)

But for now the length is less of a problem than the pacing. Much of the fun in the books comes from how swiftly they move, and how much detail and information they carry along in their eddying, tumbling narrative currents. Ms. Rowling is capable of remarkable shifts in tone, gliding from comic observations of daily life at Hogwarts to tremors of absolute evil with a sure, deft touch.

Mr. Columbus, in contrast, is a master of the obvious and the emphatic. After the boisterous clowning of the opening set piece -- which involves the ritual humiliation of the Dursleys, Harry's swinish Muggle guardians -- the picture settles down into a plodding, heavy rhythm. Don't get me wrong: many of the sequences are thrilling. The digital editing of the high-flying Quidditch match is notably improved, and the monstrous special effects, including an angry tree, a swarm of spiders and a giant, slimy basilisk, are vividly creepy.

There is also an anarchic, rubbery computer-animated elf named Dobby, who steals every scene he appears in from the more restrained flesh-and-blood cast members; a shrill ghost named Moaning Myrtle (Shirley Henderson); and a very scary haunted diary. The visual environment is beautifully conceived and skillfully rendered by Stuart Craig, the production designer, and Roger Pratt, the director of photography: more than in ''Sorcerer's Stone,'' Hogwarts has begun to seem like a real place.

But the movie's scenes feel cut to uniform length and arranged in plodding, unvarying rhythm. Every speech and incident is blown up into a big effect, and as a result the quieter, quirkier aspects of Ms. Rowling's world are pushed to the edge of the frame, or left out altogether. The sense of a dramatic crescendo is lost, so that by the end, instead of feeling stirred to a high pitch of anxiety and excitement, you may feel battered and worn down.

But not, in the end, too terribly disappointed. I did wish that Alan Rickman and Maggie Smith -- who return as the rival housemasters Severus Snape and Minerva McGonagall -- had more to do, but their absences are compensated for by Kenneth Branagh as a self-adoring teacher of defense against the dark arts, and Jason Isaacs as the viperous Lucius Malfoy, father of Draco. Mr. Harris, who died last month, gives us a last taste of his whispery, mischievous wisdom, and Robbie Coltrane, as the doting, bumbling Hagrid, has a welcome Falstaffian vigor.

The story would be hard to ruin. It moves, as always, simultaneously backward and forward, toward the mysteries of unfinished wizard history and through the passages of Harry's coming of age, tripping us up with the subtle differences between ordinary bad behavior and true evil. It does, however, remain more lively, and more at home, on the page.

''Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets'' is rated PG (Parental guidance suggested). It has some very frightening scenes, especially for viewers who are afraid of snakes and spiders.

HARRY POTTER AND THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS

Directed by Chris Columbus; written by Steve Kloves, based on the novel by J. K. Rowling; director of photography, Roger Pratt; edited by Peter Honess; music by John Williams; production designer, Stuart Craig; produced by David Heyman; released by Warner Brothers Pictures. Running time: 161 minutes. This film is rated PG.

WITH: Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter), Rupert Grint (Ron Weasley), Emma Watson (Hermione Granger), Tom Felton (Draco Malfoy), Kenneth Branagh (Gilderoy Lockhart), John Cleese (Nearly Headless Nick), Robbie Coltrane (Rubeus Hagrid), Warwick Davis (Professor Flitwick), Richard Griffiths (Vernon Dursley), Richard Harris (Prof. Albus Dumbledore), Jason Isaacs (Lucius Malfoy), Alan Rickman (Prof. Severus Snape), Fiona Shaw (Petunia Dursley), Maggie Smith (Prof. Minerva McGonagall), Julie Walters (Molly Weasley) and Shirley Henderson (Moaning Myrtle).

• Cast & crew
• User reviews

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

• Harry Potter lives his second year at Hogwarts with Ron and Hermione when a message on the wall announces that the legendary Chamber of Secrets has been opened. The trio soon realize that, to save the school, it will take a lot of courage.
• Forced to spend his summer holidays with his muggle relations, Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) gets a real shock when he gets a surprise visitor: Dobby (Toby Jones) the house-elf, who warns Harry against returning to Hogwarts, for terrible things are going to happen. Harry decides to ignore Dobby's warning and continues with his pre-arranged schedule. But at Hogwarts, strange and terrible things are indeed happening. Harry is suddenly hearing mysterious voices from inside the walls, muggle-born students are being attacked, and a message scrawled on the wall in blood puts everyone on his or her guard, "The Chamber Of Secrets Has Been Opened. Enemies Of The Heir, Beware". — Soumitra
• It's year two at Hogwarts, and Harry (Daniel Radcliffe), Ron (Rupert Grint), and Hermione (Emma Watson) are back learning, but their year doesn't go passed quietly. Members of the school are turning up petrified and bloody writings are appearing on the walls, revealing to everyone, that someone has opened the Chamber of Secrets. The attacks continue, bringing the possibility of the closure of Hogwarts. Harry and his friends are now forced to secretly uncover the truth about the chamber before the school closes or any lives are taken. — Film_Fan
• When a crazy house-elf named Dobby (Toby Jones) arrives in Harry's (Daniel Radcliffe's) room, he warns him that there is a plot to destroy Hogwarts and that he shouldn't return. Harry then starts hearing voices through the walls, students being petrified, and a girl who died in a bathroom. He soon finds out that it is a basilisk roaming in the Chamber Of Secrets, under the control from a memory of Lord Voldemort. Is Voldemort still inactive? Or will it be a friend of his being controlled?
• Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) is in his second year of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. He is visited by a house-elf named Dobby (Toby Jones), and warned not to go back to Hogwarts. Harry ignores his warning, and returns. He is still famous, although still disliked by Snape (Alan Rickman), Draco (Tom Felton), and the rest of the Slytherins. But then, strange things start to happen. People are becoming petrified, and no one knows what is doing it. Harry keeps hearing a voice, a voice which seems to be coming from within the walls. They are told the story of the Chamber of Secrets. It is said that only Salazar Slytherin's true descendent will be able to open it. Harry, it turns out, is a Parsel-tongue. This means that he is able to speak with and understand snakes. Everyone thinks that it's him that has opened the Chamber of Secrets because that is what Slytherin was famous for. — Sarah
• While home with the Dursleys for the summer, Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) is not getting any mail from his friends, Ron (Rupert Grint) and Hermione (Emma Watson). On his twelfth birthday (July 31) Harry is visited by Dobby, a house-elf, who warns Harry that he will be in mortal danger if he returns to Hogwarts. Harry ignores Dobby's warning and is determined to return. It turns out that Dobby has been collecting Harry's letters to make it seem as though his friends had forgotten him, hoping Harry might then not want to return to Hogwarts. Seeing that he will have to use force, Dobby decides to destroy, by the use of a charm, a large cake that Aunt Petunia (Fiona Shaw) has baked for an important dinner party attended by Vernon Dursley's (Richard Griffiths) boss and his wife. Harry is blamed by the Ministry of Magic for Dobby's charm, and is told that if he does magic outside school again, he will be expelled. On learning that Harry cannot perform magic outside school, the Dursleys, previously fearful of his wizarding, lock Harrys books and wand away and Vernon Dursley fits bars onto his bedroom window, making Harry a prisoner. A few days later, Fred, George (James and Oliver Phelps) and Ron Weasley come to his rescue in their father's enchanted Ford Anglia. After a pleasant summer together in the Weasley house, everyone heads to Platform 9¾ to take the Hogwarts Express back to school. To their shock, Harry and Ron are unable to enter the barrier between platforms 9 and 10. In desperation, they fly to Hogwarts in the car, crashing into the Whomping Willow and damaging Ron's wand. The semi-sentient car ejects them and their belongings and disappears into the Forbidden Forest. Harry soon finds he is the unwanted centre of attention of three people: the vain new Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor, Gilderoy Lockhart (Kenneth Branagh), admirer Colin Creevey (Hugh Mitchell), and Ron's sister, Ginny Weasley (Bonnie Wright), who fancies Harry. Events take a turn for the worse when the Chamber of Secrets is opened and a monster stalks the castle, with the power literally to petrify several students. According to legend, the Chamber was built by Salazar Slytherin and can only be opened by his heir, in order to purge Hogwarts of students who are not pure-blood wizards. Many suspect Harry is the Heir of Slytherin, especially after he inadvertently speaks Parseltongue (the language of snakes), a rare ability Harry gained after Voldemort's murderous attack upon him when he was an infant. Harry, Ron, and Hermione attempt to discover the Heir of Slytherin's true identity. Using Polyjuice Potion brewed by Hermione, they disguise themselves as Slytherin students, Crabbe (Jamie Waylett) and Goyle (Josh Herman), hoping to learn from Draco Malfoy (Tom Felton) the identity of the Heir. Malfoy, they learn, does not know who the Heir of Slytherin is, but he inadvertently provides Harry and Ron with an important clue about the Chamber of Secrets. Unfortunately, the hair that Hermione took from Millicent Bullstrode's uniform was from a cat, and as the polyjuice potion is only intended for human transformations she assumes a feline appearance; it takes a little more than a month to restore her normal human form. She is released from the hospital wing in early February, her normal appearance restored. The attacks increase throughout the year, petrifying more students, including Hermione. Most horribly, a message written on a wall declares that Ginny Weasley has been taken into the Chamber, where "her skeleton will lie forever". With the help of Ron and Moaning Myrtle (Shirley Henderson), Harry discovers the entrance to the Chamber of Secrets. They force Gilderoy Lockhart, a fraud who wipes clean other wizards' memories and claims their achievements, to go with them. Once they find the entrance to the Chamber, Lockhart attempts to use Ron's broken wand to erase Harry and Ron's memories, but the spell backfires on to himself and brings the ceiling caving in, separating Harry from Ron and Lockhart. Lockhart revives, but has now lost his own memory. Harry makes it to the Chamber where he finds an unconscious Ginny. He also meets a young man named Tom Riddle, who claims to be a "memory". Harry learns that Ginny, under the control of Lord Voldemort, opened the Chamber. Voldemort, whose real name is Tom Marvolo Riddle (the anagram of which is "I am Lord Voldemort"), imprinted his memory in an enchanted diary, in order to one day continue the work he began when he reopened the Chamber fifty years ago ridding Hogwarts of non-pureblood witches and wizards. It was Hagrid, a Hogwarts student at the time, who was blamed for the attacks and expelled. Tom Riddle's memory grows more powerful as it steals life from Ginny's body, and it tries to kill Harry by setting loose a basilisk (the monster responsible for petrifying the students). But Dumbledore's (Richard Harris) phoenix, Fawkes, arrives carrying the Sorting Hat, from which Harry draws out the sword of Godric Gryffindor. Fawkes blinds the basilisk, destroying its fatal gaze, and Harry slays it with the sword. In attempting to slay the basilisk Harry's arm has been pierced by the creature's fang. Harry stabs the diary with one of the basilisk's fangs, and the memory of Riddle is destroyed, while Ginny revives from her near-death state. Harry seems to be dying quickly from the venom but Fawkes comes to heal Harry with his tears (phoenix tears have healing power). Ginny and Harry both recover fully, along with those who were petrified: Hermione, Mrs Norris, Justin Finch-Fletchley, Nearly Headless Nick (John Cleese), and Colin Creevey. Harry realizes it was Lucius Malfoy (Jason Isaacs), Draco Malfoy's father, who slipped the diary into Ginny's cauldron when he encountered the Weasleys in a Diagon Alley bookshop, but he is unable to prove it. Dobby reveals he is the Malfoys' servant, and knowing their treachery, had been trying to protect Harry all year. In gratitude, Harry sticks one of his old socks into the diary and hands it to Lucius. Lucius throws away the diary, but Dobby catches it and finds the sock hidden in its pages. This constitutes, in Dobby's eyes, a gift of clothing the traditional manner in which a master frees a house-elf from servitude. The freed Dobby declares he is eternally grateful to Harry and protects him from an attempted reprisal from Lucius. The word "Avada" is used as the beginning of Lucius Malfoy's curse, suggesting that it is the Avada Kedavra (the killing curse). Dumbledore dispels Harry's fears that he could have been put into Slytherin rather than into Gryffindor when he tells Harry that it is his choices that define him and not his abilities, and that Harry could not have wielded the sword of Gryffindor if he did not truly belong to that house. And end-of-year-feast is held with the revived victims, Hermione reunites with Harry and Ron and Hagrid returns to Hogwarts.

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Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets Reviews

• 63   Metascore
• 2 hr 40 mins
• Fantasy, Family, Action & Adventure
• Watchlist Where to Watch

In the second entry in the series, the boy wizard investigates when some Hogwarts students turn to stone.

Relieved of the burden of character introduction that fell to HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER'S STONE, this adaptation of J.K. Rowling's second novel is free to get off to a rollicking start. Fans have little reason to complain: Chris Columbus makes the novel's transformation into a big-budget feature look effortless, and the film's darker tone is more satisfying than that of the first, a somewhat forced happy ending notwithstanding. Following a brief sojourn with Harry's horrible muggle aunt and uncle ("muggle" being Potter-speak for a non-magical person), it's Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint), Harry's best pal from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, to the rescue. Harry's visit with the boisterous Weasleys, a large brood of magically inclined redheads, is an eye-opener, but there are hints of trouble ahead when Harry and Ron miss the train back to school and "borrow" the Weasley's flying car. Their joyride leads to a terrifying encounter with a Whomping Willow tree and another with stern Professor Snape (Alan Rickman, in delightfully wicked mode). The two boys are reunited with their bossy pal, Hermione Granger (Emma Watson), and Harry resumes his rivalry with snotty Draco Malfoy (Tom Felton), whose bigoted attitude towards classmates who hail from muggle families is not the least bit improved. Mysterious events ensue, as they must. Students and animals are found petrified, Harry faces one life-threatening situation after another, and everything seems linked to a strange message written in blood: "The Chamber of Secrets has been opened." Ron and Harry find a cryptic diary that implicates Hagrid (Robbie Coltrane), the school's genial groundskeeper, and Harry makes the disturbing discovery that he has much in common with evil Lord Voldemort, who cast a long shadow over the first film. Though the fresh-faced students take center stage, the formidable cast of veterans make the most of their limited screen time, including the late Richard Harris as intimidating-yet-fair headmaster Dumbledore, Maggie Smith as stern Professor McGonagall, John Cleese as Nearly Headless Nick, Julie Walters as kind-hearted Mrs. Weasley and Jason Isaacs as young Draco's conniving father. But it's Kenneth Branagh who steals the show, playing the new, narcissistic Defense of the Dark Arts instructor Gilderoy Lockhart, who in one telling moment glances at a canvas of himself painting a self-portrait, all three Lockharts flashing award-winning smiles. While this is just as long as the first film, more convincing special effects help make time fly, including several completely computer-generated characters like the mischievous house-elf Dobby and Professor Sprout's (Miriam Margolyes) mandrakes, a squirming and shrieking bunch of potato-shaped horrors that resemble botanical gremlins.

The Best Character in Each Harry Potter Movie

Spoiler alert: it's not always Harry!

Harry Potter is one of the most important and influential book franchises in the young adult fantasy genre . First released in 1997, it follows a young boy who learns he is a Chosen One in a hidden world of magic and must develop his arcane skills at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry while dark forces plot in the background. In 2001, Warner Bros released a film adaptation of the first book, which began one of the most financially successful film franchises ever .

One of the saga's strongest is its myriad of multifaceted characters relatable to a wide array of audiences. The films did an admirable job of adapting most, thanks to the stellar casting. Each entry into the saga has its fair share of memorable characters; however, a few key figures stand out in each Harry Potter movie , whether because of their impact on the overall story or the depth the actors bring to their performances.

1 Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe)

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

Known as the Boy Who Lived, Harry Potter ( Daniel Radcliffe ) is a living legend in the wizarding world because he defeated the Dark Lord, Voldemort, as an infant. Because Voldemort killed his parents, Harry spends his childhood living with his non-magical relatives, who treat him poorly and tell him nothing of his heritage. When he turns eleven, Harry receives an invitation to join Hogwarts, which sets him on a path of greatness and hardship.

Child actors are always a gamble, but thankfully, Radcliffe nailed Harry's performance from the beginning and only got better with each subsequent film. In Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone , Radcliffe especially captures Harry's wide-eyed amazement as he, and by extension, the audience takes in the wonders of the wizarding world for the first time. Radcliffe's Harry is also a very likable protagonist , demonstrating good qualities like compassion and courage while not being infallible in the face of temptation. His performance is the perfect way to introduce this world of wonder, and Radcliffe valiantly supports the film on his young but capable shoulders .

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

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2 Ronald Weasley (Rupert Grint)

'harry potter and the chamber of secrets' (2002).

The youngest son of the pureblood Weasley family, Ronald ( Rupert Grint ), becomes Harry's best friend and informer about wizarding culture. When Harry's aunt and uncle refuse to let him go to Hogwarts for his second year, Ron and his brothers, Fred and George ( James and Oliver Phelps ), break him free with their father's flying car. He later flies Harry to Hogwarts in the car, but after crashing it into a Womping Willow, both it and his wand are damaged.

Ron is the standout character from Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets , thanks to Grint's phenomenal non-verbal acting. His face contorts into expressive masks of terror during stressful situations, best shown when meeting the giant spider, Aragog ( Julian Glover ), due to Ron's and, as it turns out, Grint's own arachnophobia. Besides that, Ron gets plenty of moments to show his bravery and loyalty to his friends , from standing up to bully Draco Malfoy ( Tom Felton ) to confronting Professor Gilderoy Lockheart ( Sir Kenneth Branagh ) with Harry. Sadly, the future Harry Potter movies fail Ron by reducing him to little more than comic relief, but his role in Chamber of Secrets remains a highlight of the saga.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

3 remus lupin (david thewlis), 'harry potter and the prisoner of azkaban' (2004).

In his youth, Remus Lupin ( David Thewlis ) was turned into a werewolf but was still allowed to attend Hogwarts, where he met his lifelong friends, James Potter ( Adrian Rawlins ), Sirius Black ( Gary Oldman ), and Peter Pettigrew ( Timothy Spall ). He is later hired as the Defense Against the Dark Arts Teacher , using a special potion to help him control his transformations. Lupin forms a close relationship with Harry and teaches him the Patronus Charm to protect him from the emotion-draining Dementors.

Remus Lupin is one of the more complicated and compelling characters in the franchise and by far the best in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban , thanks to his harsh life and close relationship with Harry. Lupin develops a father-figure relationship with Harry at a time when the young boy needs it the most and provides insight into his parent's past, helping the Boy Who Lived come into his own as both a wizard and a teenager. Lupin also gives Harry honest and sound advice, treating him as an equal due to his history of pain and loss. The relationship would remain crucial throughout the saga, but it's at its best and most layered in the third movie.

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

4 alastor moody (brendan gleeson), 'harry potter and the goblet of fire' (2005).

One of the greatest living Aurors, Alistar Moody ( Brendan Gleeson ) devotes his life to the capture of dark wizards, regardless of how many body parts he loses along the way. This daredevil approach causes him to develop a paranoid disposition, which, combined with his mechanical eye, gives him the nickname "Mad-Eye." Unfortunately, Mad-Eye can't prevent his capture by Barty Crouch Jr. ( David Tennant ), who takes his form using Polyjuice Potion to sneak into Hogwarts as the new Defense Against the Dark Arts Teacher.

While the Moody that appears for most of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire is an imposter, it's such a convincing performance that it may as well be the original character, and worth analyzing separately from Barty Crouch Jr. Moody became a beloved figure for his maverick attitude and unorthodox methods of teaching his students , believing that the only way to combat dark magic is to experience it firsthand. Plus, he turns Draco Malfoy ( Tom Felton ) into a ferret, which is one of the funniest scenes in the franchise. Gleeson is very obviously having the time of his life in the role, which comes across in his energetic and magnetic performance.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

5 dolores umbridge (imelda staunton), 'harry potter and the order of the phoenix' (2007).

Fearing that Albus Dumbledore ( Sir Michael Gambon ) is trying to usurp him, Minister of Magic Cornelius Fudge ( Robert Hardy ) appoints Dolores Umbridge ( Imelda Staunton ) as the new Defense Against the Dark Arts Teacher at Hogwarts. She refuses to teach the students any advanced form of magic and uses corporal punishment to punish any disobedience. Over time, she steadily gains more power, declaring herself Hogwarts High Inquisitor and prompting Harry and his friends to form Dumbledore's Army.

Umbridge is one of the best villains in the Harry Potter franchise and the main reason behind Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix 's success. She presents herself with a sickly-sweet disposition, which makes her actions feel all the more wicked due to how it contrasts with how terrible she is to those she has authority over. Yet she also has some complexity to her character, since she is committed to order and upholding the laws of the Ministry of Magic. Played by Oscar nominee Imelda Staunton with the perfect blend of nauseating sweetness and detestable glee, Dolores Umbridge is one of the most memorable figures in the Harry Potter lore and a more engaging villain than Voldemort himself.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

6 albus dumbledore (michael gambon), 'harry potter and the half-blood prince' (2008).

The greatest wizard in living memory, Albust Dumbledore, serves as the headmaster of Hogwarts and Harry's primary mentor while at school. During Harry's sixth year, Dumbledore informs Harry about the history of Voldemort and reveals the existence of the dangerous Horcruxes , which grant the Dark Lord immortality. As they conduct their investigations, Draco Malfoy also plans to kill Dumbledore on Voldemort's orders.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is the film where Gambon truly gets to flex his amazing acting skills as Dumbledore is put through the wringer . The most powerful moments come during the climax, first when Dumbledore drinks a potion that forces him to relive his worst memories and when Draco confronts him in the astronomy tower. Both of these moments show real vulnerability and humanity in Dumbledore, first by showing that even a wizard as great as him has demons to battle and by showing that, even in his worst moments, he is still willing to help others. It's a shame that the Academy always pays the fantasy genre dust because Gambon is so good that it's not an overstatement to say he is Oscar-worthy.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

7 hermione granger (emma watson), 'harry potter and the deathly hallows: part 1' (2010).

Born to two non-magical parents, Hermione Granger ( Emma Wattson ) falls so in love with the wizarding world that she absorbs as much history and knowledge as she can. Her thirst for knowledge makes her an invaluable member of Harry's friend group, using her intellect to solve logic puzzles and research obscure and forbidden spells. When she, Harry, and Ron head off to hunt for Voldemort's Horcruxes, she does most of the planning and preparations, from erasing her parent's memories to keeping the Golden Trio safe to enchanting a bag to hold plenty of items.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 offers Hermione many moments to shine, thanks to the increased focus on her and Ron. She demonstrates tremendous moments of bravery befitting of a Gryffindor , from posing as a fake Harry during the Battle of the Seven Potters to accompanying Harry in the first place on this likely suicidal mission. After Ron temporarily leaves, Hermione also provides emotional support for Harry while dealing with her own heartbreak, demonstrating the strength of their friendship. Hermione is arguably the best character in the entire saga, and Deathly Hallows Part 1 proves why.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1

8 severus snape (alan rickman), 'harry potter and the deathly hallows: part 2' (2011).

Before he was teaching Potions at Hogwarts, Severus Snape ( Alan Rickman ) was a Death Eater in service to Voldemort but defected to save the life of the woman he loved, Lily Potter ( Geraldine Somerville ). Years later, it appears he is still loyal to Voldemort when he kills Dumbledore and takes over as Hogwarts Headmaster. However, Harry learns the truth from Snape's memories: he is a double-double agent, following Dumbledore's orders, even at the cost of his own life.

Rickman received special insight into Severus' character years before the reveal in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 , allowing him to delve deeply into Snape's psyche and convey the complexity of his character. Snape's final moments in Deathly Hallows Part 2 are brilliant , from his cold, almost emotionless expressions while undercover to his emotional death looking into Lily's eyes through Harry's. Yet it is the flashback showing his true motivations that elevates Snape so highly among the fans: despite his many faults and his poor treatment of Harry, Severus still chooses love over hate.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2

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

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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.

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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 (United States/United Kingdom, 2002)

There's no question that Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets is designed more for fans of the book than for those who have never picked up a J.K. Rowling tome. However, while that makes sense financially (after all, the target audience represents those children and adults who have gobbled up the novels), it opens up some questions about the creative side of things. The second Harry Potter movie is a fun, fantastic adventure, but, watching it, I had the sense that it could have been even better than it is. I was diverted and entertained, but never truly absorbed.

The problem, as it was with the previous movie, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone , is a slavish faithfulness to the book. Nearly every minor plot element and scene has been retained (although the few absences, such as the "Deathday Party," will no doubt anger some fans), leading to a lot of largely irrelevant tangents and a running length that exceeds the first movie's two and one-half hours. Sequences (chiefly of the character-building variety) that work well on the written page do not always fare as strongly in a motion picture, and that is the case here. One must remember that novels and cinema are different media. Some of the best movie adaptations do not adhere rigorously to the author's text. The first hour of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets occasionally feels sluggish and prone to aimless wandering. After that, once the main story kicks into high gear, the film comes across as better focused and faster paced – at least until the last quarter-hour and the seemingly endless denouement.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets opens up with Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) joining his friends, Hermione (Emma Watson) and Ron (Rupert Grint), and his nemesis, Draco (Tom Felton), as they prepare to begin their sophomore year at Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry. Many of the old professors and administrators are back, including headmaster Albus Dumbledore (Richard Harris in his final role), the strict Professor McGonagall (Maggie Smith), and the dark, unwelcoming Professor Snape (Alan Rickman). There's also a newcomer – the charismatic, self-absorbed Gilderoy Lockhart (Kenneth Branagh), who is more concerned with answering fan mail than teaching how to defend against the dark arts. But all is not well at Hogwarts. A dark plot is brewing, with someone planning to break into the legendary "Chamber of Secrets" and unleash a monster that can petrify or kill with a look. It's up to Harry and his two friends to uncover the individual behind the plot and foil him or her before Hogwarts is closed.

All of the true inspiration underlying Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets lies in J.K. Rowling's writing. The Harry Potter books don't break new barriers, but they mix long-accepted fantasy formulas into a mélange that is fresh, easygoing, and infectious. Some of that comes across in the movies, but there are times when director Chris Columbus' pedestrian filmmaking lacks the spark that would truly ignite a movie. Columbus doesn't take a single chance. As a result, there are times when Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets seems more like a pre-packaged product than a living, breathing motion picture. It satisfies, but does not overwhelm.

The film's high octane second half is vastly better than the fitfully entertaining opening 75 minutes. All of the memorable scenes occur late in the movie, including an amazingly realized sequence featuring a bunch of large, unfriendly spiders and an equally eye-popping battle with a giant snake. These scenes, with their flawless CGI special effects, dwarf even the most impressive sequence from the first movie. The film's other big effect is the computer-generated Dobby the House Elf, who simultaneously manages to be little more convincing and a little less annoying than Jar-Jar Binks.

The trio of young actors – Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint – is back. Each of the young stars gives a more confident and polished performance than in his or her previous outing. One hopes the filmmakers will be able to stay with these performers for at least another one or two outings. (Age may eventually become a factor, since future movies are not projected to arrive annually.) The best of the newcomers is, expectedly, Kenneth Branagh, who sinks his teeth into playing the preening, supercilious Gilderoy Lockhart. Branagh has been keeping a low profile in the past few years – it's nice to see him explode back into the limelight with something this enjoyable. The other notable addition is Jason Issacs, who plays Draco's father, Lucius. Isaacs radiates pure evil, and there's little doubt that he will become a formidable adversary for Harry in future episodes.

As a companion piece to Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone , Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets makes for effective viewing. The second film may be a little darker than the first, but the two pictures mesh perfectly – not surprising, considering that many of the same people were responsible for both. Creatively, the movie has its flaws, but those will be ignored in the impending, inescapable box office tidal wave. It will be interesting to see where the series goes from here, with director Columbus leaving and the next book, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban , being too long for the kind of direct regurgitation that marked the first two outings. One can only hope the result will be as good as, if not better than, its predecessors.

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How Harry Potter and The Cursed Child Fits Into the Rest of the Franchise

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is a continuation of Harry's story, but it also, quite literally, messes with the timeline of the franchise.

It's important to remember the ongoing controversial statements by the creator of the Harry Potter franchise. CBR supports the hard work of industry professionals on properties fans know and love and the wider world of Harry Potter that fans have adopted as their own. You can find CBR's continuing coverage on Rowling here .

• Harry Potter and the Cursed Child explores how one life could alter the course of history.
• It depicts time travel and its ripple effects, creating various alternate timelines.
• The play also depicts how Harry and his son, Albus', relationship is at the center of this.

The Wizarding World continues to expand every day with new content coming out. One of the first major contributions to the expanding timeline came in the form of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child . A play adapted from a story by J.K. Rowling, The Cursed Child continues the story of Harry and his family nineteen years after Lord Voldemort's final defeat. In fact, it quite literally begins in the epilogue to Harry's story, focusing more on his second son, Albus Potter, and how he grapples with the legacy his father built.

The problem with placing this story firmly in the timeline is that it literally is all over the said timeline. Albus' story features heavy use of a powerful time-turner to go back in time and right the wrongs of the past. Unfortunately, this leads to inevitable ripple effects that change the course of history, resulting in several alternate timelines that are far worse than the one Albus was trying to improve. Behind all this is the story of his strained relationship with Harry and how, by reconciling with one another, they saved the Wizarding World from the return of Lord Voldemort.

Harry Potter Wasn't Prepared to Be a Father

• The Cursed Child explores how Harry struggles as a father.
• This prompts his son Albus to try and save Cedric Diggory in the past.

Harry Potter: Voldemort's Death Eaters, Explained

One thing that becomes clear from the outset of the play is that it does not shy away from the complexities of being a parent. There is no such thing as a perfect mother or father, and Harry Potter, like any other person, has his failings as a parent. This is exemplified in his relationship with Albus. Though the two had a closer relationship before he first started attending Hogwarts, Albus being sorted into Slytherin resulted in him being bullied. Compounding this was his seeming lack of any of the magical talents that made Harry exceptional in school, resulting in even further resentment towards his father, whom he always felt he was constantly being compared to.

This resentment built for years, culminating in a terrible argument between father and son just before Albus began attending his fourth year at Hogwarts. During their fight, both admitted that they wished they weren't related to one another. Harry regretted what he said immediately, but he was already so confused about how to approach his own son that he let the issue linger. Albus, meanwhile, was more hurt than ever, and this culminated in a decision that would have dire repercussions.

When Amos Diggory begged Harry to use one of the last remaining time-turners to go back in time and save Cedric Diggory, Harry refused. Albus overheard and, feeling a certain kinship with the deceased Cedric, someone who was also mowed down by Harry's story, decided that he and his best friend, Scorpius Malfoy, would steal the time-turner, go back in time and save Cedric from being killed. This naturally led to a number of issues.

Harry Potter and the Alternate Timelines

• Albus traveled back in time to alter the events of the Tri-Wizard Tournament.
• He accidentally created a timeline where Ron never married Hermione and one where Voldemort ruled the world.

What Happened to Dumbledore's Hand in Harry Potter?

Now, Albus and Scorpius are still children by this point, and angsty ones at that. Their plans weren't very well thought out and had disastrous consequences for the ultimate fate of their parents. Their first attempt to save Cedric was by sabotaging his first Tri-Wizard Tournament Trial . They ended up botching this by dressing up as Durmstrang students, which a younger Hermione noticed, making her suspicious of Viktor Krum and going to the Yule Ball with Ron Weasley instead. This prevented Ron from feeling the jealousy that would act as a catalyst for his true feelings for Hermione, culminating in him never marrying her.

This naturally wiped out Albus' cousins through Ron and Hermione and had the added effect of placing Albus in Gryffindor in this new timeline. Disturbed but undeterred, Albus and Scorpius once again returned to the past. This time, they humiliated Cedric, with the ensuing embarrassment and resentment prompting Cedric to join the revitalized Death Eaters and kill Neville Longbottom. This resulted in Voldemort's final Horcrux not being destroyed, meaning Harry was instead killed by Voldemort instead of the other way around. This alteration created a dark future where Voldemort ruled the Wizarding World, and Albus no longer existed, forcing Scorpius to return to the past to undo their actions, saving Albus and restoring the original timeline.

The chaos their actions had unleashed did get them scolded by their parents, but Albus did begin reconciling with his father. The boys resolved to destroy the time-turner, only to be dragged into the past by the true mastermind of their misadventures: Voldemort's secret daughter, Delphi Riddle. She resolved to prevent Voldemort from killing an infant Harry, potentially giving him a chance to become even stronger and then restore the dark future Scorpius experienced. Fortunately, with the combined efforts of Albus and his entire family, Delphi was defeated, and the timeline was preserved.

The Cursed Child Is an Exploration of How One Life Can Change So Much

• The Cursed Child visits three major points in the history of the Wizarding World.
• It also explores the value of one life to the events of the world.

Daniel Radcliffe Doesn't Think He Was Very Good in the Harry Potter Films

From an outside perspective, it can seem as though The Cursed Child is a bit messy in the timeline. Though it makes repeated trips to the past, for the most part, the crux of the story takes place in the present as the characters try to reconcile their pasts with their futures. In summary, though, The Cursed Child takes place in three major points of the Wizarding World's history: the modern day (with varying alterations due to time travel), the Tri-Wizard Tournament of 1994-1995, and, of course, the night Voldemort murdered James and Lily Potter .

The overall meaning of the story is how valuable a single life can be to change the events of the world. By trying to save Cedric, a character whose life was seemingly sacrificed on the altar of Harry and Voldemort's feud, Albus and Scorpius almost irrevocably changed the future. They wiped out their own family members and, in some cases, themselves, all to change the course of one life, with the results only becoming more disastrous.

This, in turn, led to them understanding the value of their lives. Albus and Scorpius may not have had much self-worth by the play's beginning, but at its conclusion, they have reached a much healthier outlook, now realizing that simply by living, they have the power to alter the course of history in ways no one could have expected. The harrowing journey also provided Albus with a greater understanding of his father and what he lost to build the reputation he has today. Harry, in turn, finally began to recognize how Albus was struggling. This adventure, though chaotic and nearly apocalyptic, brought them closer together and cemented that the Wizarding World is in good hands moving forward.

Harry Potter

The Harry Potter franchise follows the adventure of a young boy introduced a whole new world of magic, mayhem and darkness. Traversing the obstacles in his path, young Harry's rise to heroics pits him against Lord Voldemort, one of the most dangerous wizards in the world and all his minions.

Screen Rant

10 minor harry potter characters the tv remake can finally explore in more depth.

While awaiting the new HBO Harry Potter TV show, it's worth considering which minor characters from the books and films need to be expanded upon.

• Enjoying the Harry Potter TV show will mean finally understanding why minor characters like Bill Weasley and Oliver Wood are so important.
• The Harry Potter series' cultural impact is undeniable, but the TV show has a chance to fill in the gaps left by the original films.
• Characters like Peeves and Madam Poppy Pomfrey had significant roles in the books, and the TV show should give them the recognition they deserve.

The upcoming Harry Potter TV show has the opportunity to include some brilliant minor characters that the original films failed to focus on. HBO's Harry Potter TV show will once again tell the story of Hogwarts' Golden Trio – Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger, who were played by Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson in the original movies. The Harry Potter books were groundbreaking upon their release and created an incredible cultural impact worldwide, with audiences falling in love with the Wizarding World and its unique stories.

The films invested a lot of effort into several main characters, such as Albus Dumbledore (Michael Gambon), Minerva McGonagall (Dame Maggie Smith), and Lord Voldemort (Raph Fiennes). However, some minor characters didn't get the screen time or character development they deserved in the movies, and some didn't appear at all. Once the original Harry Potter movies are remade in the upcoming TV show, these characters will hopefully receive the recognition they're owed.

How Will Harry Potter's Show Cover 7 Books In 10 Years?

10 bill weasley, movie actor: domhnall gleeson.

Bill Weasley (Domhnall Gleeson) was the eldest of Molly (Julie Walters) and Arthur's (Mark Williams) children and a Curse-Breaker for Gringotts. He first appeared in The Prisoner of Azkaban movie while working in Egypt but returned to England to join the Order of the Phoenix. During this time, he met Fleur Delacour (Clémence Poésy), and the two sparked up a relationship. They eventually married in The Deathly Hallows – Part 1.

Bill had some major moments in the books that were completely absent in the films.

Bill had some major moments in the books that were completely absent in the films. For example, he didn't appear in The Half-Blood Prince movie, yet he was present for the Battle of the Astronomy Tower in the book. It was then that he was attacked by werewolf Fenrir Greyback (Dave Legeno), which left a large scar on his cheek. When Bill appeared in the following film, he had the scar, but it also created a plot hole. Ron's oldest brother was a great character in the books and one that the TV show will hopefully give more screen time.

9 Aberforth Dumbledore

Movie actor: ciarán hinds.

Aberforth Dumbledore (Ciarán Hinds) was the brother of Hogwarts' head teacher, Albus, and a key figure in the Second Wizarding War. In The Deathly Hallows – Part 2 , he gave Harry, Ron, and Hermione access to a secret passage in his home to get back to Hogwarts. He later joined them at the Battle of Hogwarts and helped in the fight against Voldemort. However, several important details about Aberforth in the books weren't included in the films.

Despite his strained relationship with his brother, Aberforth was always in the background and watched Albus, Harry, and Hogwarts from afar throughout the years.

Aberforth was once the owner of the Hog's Head Inn in Hogsmeade, which was where Albus interviewed Sybill Trellawney (Emma Thompson) for her teaching position. He was also a member of the original Order of the Phoenix and fought in the First Wizarding War alongside the Potters. Despite his strained relationship with his brother, Aberforth was always in the background and watched Albus, Harry, and Hogwarts from afar throughout the years. These details could easily be added to the new Harry Potter TV show and could give audiences a better understanding of the Dumbledores as a family.

Movie Actor: Rik Mayall (Deleted Scene)

One common complaint about the Harry Potter films from readers was that Peeves never appeared. Peeves was a Poltergeist who lurked around the halls of Hogwarts and caused all manner of chaos and mischief. He was very present during the Golden Trio's time at Hogwarts, so audiences found it odd that Peeves wasn't included in the films. For example, in The Sorcerer's Stone, he caught Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Neville out of bed after hours and reported it to Filch (David Bradley). However, when Filch arrived, Peeves decided to mock the caretaker instead.

Peeves provided some amazing, hilarious moments in the series, such as singing " Loony, loony Lupin " at Remus Lupin (David Thewlis) and throwing chairs at Harry and Hermione as they practiced the summoning spell.

Peeves also found Nearly Headless Nick (John Cleese) after the Basilisk attacked him in The Chamber of Secrets, whereas in the film, Harry was the one who discovered the injured ghost. Peeves provided some amazing, hilarious moments in the series, such as singing " Loony, loony Lupin " at Remus Lupin (David Thewlis) and throwing chairs at Harry and Hermione as they practiced the summoning spell. Peeves was originally in the film version of The Sorcerer's Stone and was played by actor Rik Mayall, although the one scene he was in was cut, and the character was never brought back.

7 Dean Thomas

Movie actor: alfred enoch.

Dean Thomas (Alfred Enoch) was a fellow Gryffindor and a friend of Harry, Ron, and Hermione. Throughout the series, Dean was a helpful ally to the Golden Trio. In the Order of the Phoenix , Dean joined Dumbledore's Army, and in The Half-Blood Prince , he briefly dated Ginny. He also shared a dorm room with Harry and Ron through their six years at Hogwarts. However, Dean Thomas' tragic backstory in Harry Potter was cut from the books and films.

Even though Dean was present in the Harry Potter films, he wasn't featured anywhere near as much as he was in the books.

Although the Harry Potter movies didn't delve much into Dean's life, the books added some brilliant little details that made him a well-rounded character. For example, in The Sorcerer's Stone, Dean made Harry a banner to support him at his first Quidditch match. He was also close with Fred (James Phelps) and George Weasley (Oliver Phelps) and helped them test Skiving Snackboxes in Order of the Phoenix. Even though Dean was present in the Harry Potter films, he wasn't featured anywhere near as much as he was in the books.

6 Oliver Wood

Movie actor: sean biggerstaff.

Oliver Wood was the Keeper and Captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team until he left Hogwarts and was easily the sport's number one fan. Oliver was extremely dedicated to Quidditch and would frequently give long and complicated lectures to the team before matches. After he left Hogwarts, Oliver joined Puddlemere United as a reserve player, something the films failed to mention. He also played alongside Nymphodora Tonks (Natalia Tena) and Charlie Weasley (Alex Crockford), which wasn't brought up in the films. Throughout the books, Oliver had some hilarious moments that the movie audiences, unfortunately, missed out on.

Oliver was so distraught that all Quidditch was canceled because of the Triwizard Tournament that he hid in the showers, and Fred and George believed that " he [was] trying to kill himself ."

For example, in The Goblet of Fire, Oliver was so distraught that Quidditch was canceled because of the Triwizard Tournament that he hid in the showers, and Fred and George believed that " he [was] trying to kill himself ." One of Oliver's most memorable qualities in the books was his obsession with winning the Quidditch Cup, which he finally did in The Prisoner of Azkaban. Oliver Wood was the ultimate Quidditch strategist and a faithful Gryffindor, but unfortunately, was another Harry Potter character that was wasted in the films.

5 Lee Jordan

Movie actor: luke youngblood.

Lee Jordan (Luke Youngblood) was Hogwarts' overenthusiastic Quidditch commentator and another Gryffindor. Lee Jordan was present in all of the Harry Potter books, but weirdly only appeared in the first two movies. Because he wasn't featured in the rest of the films, there were so many brilliant moments of his that audiences lost out on. For example, Lee was best friends with Fred and George yet was never seen with them. Lee was a member of Dumbledore's Army and also attended Fleur and Bill's wedding, two key moments that he wasn't part of in the films.

During the Second Wizarding War, Lee hosted the Potterwatch radio show and voiced his support for Harry.

However, it was Lee's little moment in the books that made him such a great character. For example, he hilariously spent one Quidditch focusing on Harry's new Firebolt over the actual game. During the Second Wizarding War, Lee hosted the Potterwatch radio show and voiced his support for Harry. Although Lee had left Hogwarts, he returned for the final battle and was around for Fred's death and Harry defeating Voldemort. For such a present character in the books, it was disappointing that he was so absent in the movies.

4 Lily Evans/Potter

Movie actor: geraldine somerville (adult), susie shinner (teen), ellie darcey-alden (child).

Lily Potter, née Evans, was Harry's mother and a member of the original Order of the Phoenix, who sacrificed her life for her son. Although Lily was mentioned frequently throughout the films, it wasn't until The Half-Blood Prince that audiences learned anything significant about her. Although Harry was always told that he had Lily's eyes, unfortunately, there was always more of a focus on how he was the spitting image of James (Adrian Rawlins). However, there was a lot more to Lily that the films failed to acknowledge, but the books explained brilliantly.

The films also had opportunities to explain more about Lily's relationship with Petunia after their childhood and how they were both pregnant at the same time, which could have given more context to how the Dursleys felt about Harry.

In The Order of the Phoenix, Harry saw his parents as students at Hogwarts in a memory. However, the film excluded the part where young Snape called Lily a " filthy mudblood, " which ended their friendship. The films also had opportunities to explain more about Lily's relationship with Petunia after their childhood and how they were both pregnant at the same time, which could have given more context to how the Dursleys felt about Harry. Although Lily was a minor character, her past was incredibly relevant not just to Harry's story, but also to the Wizarding World as a whole.

3 Madam Poppy Pomfrey

Movie actor: gemma jones.

Madam Poppy Pomfrey (Gemma Jones) was Hogwarts' resident Matron, responsible for fixing every bump, bruise, and injury. Pomfrey appeared a few times throughout the films, more often than not during scenes in the hospital wing. In the books, however, Pomfrey was a much more present member of the Hogwarts faculty. For example, in The Prisoner of Azkaban, it was revealed that Dumbledore had entrusted Pomfrey to escort Lupin to the Whomping Willow every month to transform under the full moon.

When Harry fell from his broom during the Quidditch match, she was the first to bolt across the pitch to his aid.

Regardless of the situation around her, Pomfrey was always dedicated to healthcare. In The Prisoner of Azkaban , she was more concerned about the Dementors' effects on the students than what they were there for. When Harry fell from his broom during the Quidditch match, she was the first to bolt across the pitch to his aid. During the Battle of Hogwarts, she was on the front lines helping the injured. Outside of her responsibilities, Pomfrey was a loyal friend to Minerva McGonagall, but their friendship wasn't shown in the films, something that the TV remake should include.

2 Alice And Frank Longbottom

Movie actors: lisa wood and james payton.

Alice (Lisa Wood) and Frank Longbottom (James Payton) were the parents of Neville Longbottom (Matthew Lewis) and members of the original Order of the Phoenix. During the events of the First Wizarding War, while Harry and Neville were still babies, the Longbottoms were tortured into insanity by a group of Death Eaters that included Bellatrix Lestrange (Helena Bonham-Carter) and Barty Crouch Jr. (David Tennant). With no chance of recovery, they were sent to St Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries, where they remained for the rest of their lives.

The films missed some interesting details about the Longbottoms that explained Neville's character.

Neville was raised by his grandmother, who famously sent him a " remebrall " in The Sorcerer's Stone. The films missed some interesting details about the Longbottoms that explained Neville's character. They were close with Dumbledore and Mad-Eye Moody (Brendan Gleeson), yet neither ever mentioned the Longbottoms. The Longbottoms were also just as big a target for Voldemort as the Potters, and the prophecy also applied to Neville, yet it was Harry who was the chosen one. Neville's biggest motivation in Order of the Phoenix was his parents and what Bellatrix did to them, something that the TV show should delve into.

1 Kingsley Shacklebolt

Movie actor: george harris.

Minister Kingsley Shacklebolt (George Harris) was an Auror who worked undercover at the Ministry of Magic after helping reform the Order of the Phoenix. Kingsley was intelligent and incredibly brave, and he demonstrated this in several ways. For example, in The Goblet of Fire, he fed the Ministry false information on Sirius Black's (Gary Oldman) location to keep him safe. In the Battle of Hogwarts, Kingsley fought valiantly and then later became the acting Minister of Magic, celebrated for his work and determination.

Kingsley also supported the Golden Trio and made time for them as people rather than just pawns in the chess game against Voldemort.

Kingsley had a past with the Marauders that the Harry Potter movies didn't spend enough time on. He was extremely vocal about Voldemort's return and spoke against the Ministry when they denied it, which led to him reviving the Order. Kingsley also supported the Golden Trio and made time for them as people rather than just pawns in the chess game against Voldemort. For example, he attended a party at Grimmauld Place to celebrate Hermione and Ron becoming prefects.

Harry Potter

Harry Potter is HBO's remake of the iconic Wizarding World film series that consisted of eight films between 2001 and 2011. Each season adapts a book from JK Rowling's popular series and provides more book-accurate details than the movies did. Upon the announcement of the Harry Potter TV show, the series received harsh criticism for the involvement of Rowling and for many thinking a reboot was unnecessary.

'Harry Potter Film Concert Series' to open 'Chamber of Secrets' in OKC: What to know

F rom a flying car and a fighting tree to a determined house-elf and a petrifying monster, the cinematic and musical magic of the second "Harry Potter" movie is coming to Oklahoma City.

For the second straight spring, the "Harry Potter Film Concert Series" is casting a spell for two performances at Civic Center Music Hall. "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets in Concert" is set for 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 26, and 2 p.m. Saturday, April 27, at the venerable downtown OKC venue.

At both performances, a full symphony orchestra will perform the complete score to the 2002 movie "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" live while the entire film is projected onto a massive high-definition screen.

What can movie and music fans expect from the 'Harry Potter Film Concert Series?'

Directed by Chris Columbus, the second movie in the blockbuster film franchise is adapted from the second novel in British author J.K. Rowling's best-selling seven-book series and features a score by legendary Oscar-nominated composer John Williams .

"(With) 'Harry Potter,' these scores are so incredibly iconic. People know the theme. No matter what age you are, people recognize it," said conductor Shih-Hung Young , who will wield the baton for the upcoming OKC concerts.

Over the past decade, performing film scores live alongside the movie has emerged as a popular new frontier in the symphony world .

A Chinese conductor and violinist from Taiwan, Young has traveled all over the world conducting film concerts ranging from the "Harry Potter Film Concert Series" and "Lord of the Rings: Live to Projection Trilogy & Symphony" to "Gladiator: Live" and several Disney Live-in-Concert productions, including "The Lion King," "Frozen" and "Toy Story."

Touring around the globe, "Harry Potter Film Concert Series" conjured up "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone in Concert," the first movie based on Rowling's famed book series , at the Civic Center for two nearly sold-out shows this time last year. As long as the "Harry Potter" performances continue to prove popular with OKC audiences, expect to see them return every year until all The Boy Who Lived's wizarding adventures have been played.

"There are eight films ... so the goal is to present all eight films for the audience of the city," Young said.

How are film concerts different from other orchestral performances for musicians and conductors?

Ahead of his OKC "Chamber of Secrets" shows, Young talked with The Oklahoman about the challenges and rewards of conducting live film concerts:

Q: How did you get into doing these movie music concerts?

Being a musician myself, starting from very little, the film score always grabs me, maybe more than others. But I started with this type of genre of conducting with 'The Lord of the Rings.' ... A friend of mine was on that project and invited me to be his assistant, so that's how I was introduced to this type of format. I was assistant on 'Lord of the Rings' for over five years ... until I had the chance to step up to the podium and start conducting myself.

That's pretty much my journey, how I got to get into this niche, so to speak, of conducting, because it is quite different than conducting a regular symphony orchestra concert.

Q: Can you talk about some of those differences?

My job is to sync the orchestra, whatever we play, to the film, minute by minute, second by second. So in a way, the orchestra and myself do not have as much freedom to overly express ourselves, mainly because we need to keep time within the film.

I have a 17-inch screen in front of me that has the movie that everyone else sees on a big screen. But mine also has an overlay of (visual cues called) streamers and punches , and that helps me to sync the film.

The first three 'Harry Potter' film (scores) are written by John Williams , and his film scores are always quite intricate and difficult. So, for everybody to be able to absorb that and still to be in sync, in time, that is usually the challenges we face by putting together this production.

Q: Is it similar to keeping up with the action when you're conducting a score for a musical theater performance?

Yeah, but when you play in a musical in the pit, the tempo and everything is still being dictated by the conductor. However, my tempo and the pace of the music is being dictated by the actual film. ... Ultimately, I'm walking in parallel with the film. So, the players are still able to express themselves, but in a very limited time space.

So, I often tell the orchestra members, 'If you enjoy your solo too much, I will cut you off.' Because when the next downbeat comes, the film goes, and then if you're not done with your solo, well, I'm so sorry. And they get it.

Of course, being a musician, we want to express ourselves and everybody have a very different rendition of what each theme and each phrase should be. That's the beauty of live performances. However, I often need to remind the orchestra that we can be as expressive as we want, but within the limited amount of time that we're given.

Q: With these types of shows you're literally sharing the stage with a giant movie screen. Is it hard not to be distracted by the film during these performances?

I think it's very exciting for the audiences, but for us, I always tell the musicians not to look at the film. But sight is faster than sound, and inadvertently, people will be drawn to it. I myself have done this so many times. ... I don't completely ignore it. It is part of the production, and I try to embrace that and try to make it somewhat to my benefit. ...

It really also depends on where the screen is hung. If it's like two to five feet, right on top of me, then I can't even really see it. So, in that way, that's great for me. But sometimes it's in the middle of the stage or at the back of the stage, and I do see the big film.

At the end of the day, the music is to serve the film, and sometimes, to tell the truth, I conduct from the big film, because my screen and the big film are also synced. But when you see Harry soar into the sky with Hedwig flying, it's much more dramatic, and you can feel that more, when you watch a ginormous screen (rather) than a 17-inch monitor.

Q: What keeps you coming back to these kinds of productions?

We always want to bring in more audience to our concert halls, and with the traditional classical music program these days, it's very difficult. We have faced such challenges for a long time. And this type of performances definitely brings in a lot more audience to the concert hall: People who might never have thought that they would come to a symphony orchestra concert, but they would come for Harry Potter.

And once they see how this is made and experience a symphony orchestra, perhaps it's a gateway for them to be introduced into the orchestra symphonic world.

To me, it's very rewarding every time to be able to see, especially with 'Harry Potter,' so many young children and their families. People of all ages come and share this.

At the end of the day, I want as many people to come to hear the symphony orchestra, as much as possible. And I do feel that me doing these types of projects is helping.

'Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets in Concert'

When: 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 26, and 2 p.m. Saturday, April 27

Where: Civic Center Music Hall, 201 N Walker.

Street closures: The concerts are during the Festival of the Arts, so ticketholders will need to allow extra time to park due to street closures around the Civic Center.

Information and tickets: https://www.okcciviccenter .

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: 'Harry Potter Film Concert Series' to open 'Chamber of Secrets' in OKC: What to know

Thousands Denied Access to ‘Harry Potter’ Coaster Despite Paying Admission

in Harry Potter , Universal Studios

Universal guests, be aware that one of the most popular rides in the theme park may no longer be available to you.

Back in 2010, the Wizarding World of Harry Potter opened in Islands of Adventure at Universal Orlando Resort, bringing the Harry Potter franchise to life in a way that it has never been before.

The film and book series have amassed a colossal fan base, consistently breaking box office records with each new film release. This fervent fandom has sparked Harry Potter -themed attractions worldwide, including Universal Orlando Resort’s Wizarding World of Harry Potter, as well as a surge in licensed merchandise. This expansion has now reached global proportions, with various themed areas like Hogsmeade, Diagon Alley, and soon, The Ministry of Magic at Epic Universe, the latest addition to the Universal Orlando Resort.

In 2019, Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure opened up to a 10+ hour wait of Harry Potter fans looking to take a new Hogwarts class with Rubeus Hagrid through the forbidden forest and other iconic Harry Potter locations. The coaster was one of the first in Orlando to introduce a bike-style ride where riders could lean forward during their ride.

It has launches, dark ride scene elements, backward launches, and a massive Tower of Terror drop tower-style drop while giving riders an incredibly smooth ride, which has made it one of the most popular rides in the park. Even though Jurassic World: VelociCoaster is a newer and more intense coaster, Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure is still the ride that tends to have the longest wait in the park.

Typically, if a guest cannot ride a ride at Universal Orlando Resort or even Walt Disney World Resort, it is because the ride is closed, either as a planned refurbishment or a temporary maintenance closure that will likely be resolved before the end of the day. That being said, this past week, Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure turned all additional guests away as the coaster hit capacity.

Christopher (@TRhodes2319), a guest of Universal Orlando Resort, shared photos of the coaster as well as the signage that noted the coaster was at capacity for the day.

you wouldn’t last an hour in the asylum where they raised me [if I had a gif of Row 4 blinking, that would be here too]

you wouldn’t last an hour in the asylum where they raised me [if I had a gif of Row 4 blinking, that would be here too] pic.twitter.com/ZZfhlJpH53 — Christopher T(exas) Rhodes(house) (@TRhodes2319) April 23, 2024

When Hagrid’s is at its longest wait, the extended queue will come out and will extend out of the Wizarding World and into The Lost Continent, which is the land next to it. For the coaster to hit capacity, that means that the influx of guests looking to ride was exceptional, and only continues to prove the popularity of the ride as unmatched.

In Hogsmeade, visitors to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter can experience three main rides .

Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey takes guests on an immersive journey through Hogwarts Castle, where they encounter magical creatures and characters along the way. Flight of the Hippogriff offers a family-friendly roller coaster experience, allowing riders to soar through the grounds of Hogwarts on the back of a Hippogriff. For a more thrilling adventure, Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure takes riders on a roller coaster ride through the Forbidden Forest, where they encounter Hagrid and various magical creatures.

When it comes to dining in Hogsmeade, visitors can enjoy traditional British fare at the Three Broomsticks Tavern, which serves dishes like fish and chips, shepherd’s pie, and butterbeer. Adjacent to the Three Broomsticks is the Hog’s Head pub, offering a selection of drinks, including the famous butterbeer. For sweet treats, Honeydukes candy store offers a variety of magical sweets and treats, such as chocolate frogs and Bertie Bott’s Every Flavour Beans.

In terms of shopping, visitors can purchase their own interactive wand at Ollivanders wand shop or explore Zonko’s Joke Shop for a selection of prank items and magical jokes. Dervish and Banges offers Hogwarts merchandise, including robes, scarves, and other wizarding accessories.

Related: Heartbreaking News: Cherished ‘Harry Potter’ Star Suffers Tragic Passing

Moving on to Diagon Alley at Universal Studios Florida, guests can experience the thrilling Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts roller coaster ride, which takes riders through the Gringotts bank vaults, encountering dragons, trolls, and other magical creatures. The Hogwarts Express train ride connects Diagon Alley to Hogsmeade, offering a scenic journey aboard the iconic Hogwarts Express.

In Diagon Alley, visitors can also witness a magical wand choosing ceremony at another branch of Ollivanders wand shop or explore the dark and mysterious Knockturn Alley, featuring shops like Borgin and Burkes, known for its dark magic artifacts.

For dining options, guests can enjoy traditional British pub fare at the Leaky Cauldron or indulge in magical ice cream flavors at Florean Fortescue’s Ice Cream Parlour.

Shopping opportunities in Diagon Alley include Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes, a colorful shop filled with magical joke items and toys, as well as Madam Malkin’s Robes for All Occasions, where visitors can purchase Hogwarts robes and other wizarding attire. Quality Quidditch Supplies offers a range of Quidditch equipment and merchandise for fans of the magical sport.

As we mentioned, Epic Universe will extend the Wizarding World of Harry Potter via The Ministry of Magic tying in the Ministry from the Harry Potter films, as well as the Fantastic Beasts franchise . The land is set to have one major attraction that will whisk guests back into the world J.K. Rowling created. 

The Future Fate of the Harry Potter Films

As for the future of Harry Potter, things are a little controversial due to J.K. Rowling , the creator of the franchise, having such stark political views and opinions on the LGBTQ+ community, showing her distaste for inclusivity, which has not done well with fans, in fact, many have boycott the franchise.

Even the new award-winning game Hogwarts Legacy received a ton of hate due to its affiliation with Harry Potter , even though the game creators placed a transgender character in the game in an attempt to “stick it” to Rowling.

Hogwarts Legacy  serves as a loose prequel to  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),  and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows — Part 2  (2011), as well as the three  Fantastic Beasts  films.

Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zazlav recently discussed the Harry Potter franchise, highlighting both its strengths and weaknesses.

Screenrant noted, “After the failure of Fantastic Beasts, Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zazlav is speaking out about the viability of the Harry Potter franchise. Over the course of eight movies, the Harry Potter franchise brought in $7.7 billion at the box office alone. Capitalizing on the popularity of J.K. Rowling’s books, these movies created a new generation of fans. The Fantastic Beasts franchise, meanwhile, proved to be relatively listless and brought in a comparatively low $1.865 billion across its three movies while garnering mostly mixed reviews.”

Zazlav appears to suggest that discontinuing the franchise was an error, as it prevented the original story and the primary revenue source from further expansion. Instead, subsequent storylines within the same universe struggled to maintain momentum. The CEO remarked:

“One of the other real strengths of Warner Bros. is we talk about the great IP that Warner Bros. owns. But, for us, the challenge is that our content, our great IP — ‘Harry Potter’, DC, ‘Lord of the Rings’ — that content has been underused. We haven’t done anything with ‘Harry Potter’ for more than a decade. We haven’t done anything with ‘Lord of the Rings. We think there’s a lot of shareholder value in attaching a 10-year DC — a real plan around DC, bringing ‘Harry Potter’ back to HBO for 10 consecutive years, doing multiple movies of ‘Lord of the Rings’… When you put those franchises in, it’s the best performing studio in the world. We need to deploy our best capital, and we need to do it with the best creative people in the world.”

So, even with its surrounding controversy, with the attractions at Universal Orlando Resort hitting capacity, and love for the story and characters of the franchise still alive and well, Warner Bros. is keeping the door open for the Wizarding World to continue to expand within the story of Harry Potter. 

Have you had the chance to ride Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure?

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