Harry Potter discourse never sleeps. Some swear by the cozy nostalgia of Philosopher’s Stone and Chamber of Secrets. Others ride hard for Prisoner of Azkaban and its moody tonal shift — plus it’s clearly got the best director. And plenty will argue that Deathly Hallows — Part 2is untouchable simply because Voldemort finally eats it. But quietly — and maybe controversially — the film that’s aging the best is the one that dared to slow everything down.
Right now, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows — Part 1 is sitting at #9 on HBO Max, turning the franchise’s bleakest chapter into an unexpected streaming hit. And the timing makes sense. As audiences revisit the series with fresh eyes, Part 1 feels less like “the setup movie” and more like the boldest swing the franchise ever took. What immediately sets Part 1 apart is its refusal to offer comfort. Hogwarts — the emotional anchor of the entire saga — is gone. Aside from a brief Hogwarts Express moment where Neville (Matthew Lewis) stands up to Death Eaters searching for Harry (Daniel Radcliffe), the film strands its characters (and viewers) out in the cold.
Without Hogwarts as a safety net, Deathly Hallows — Part 1becomes a war movie. Not a magical adventure, not a school-year arc — a war. Hedwig dies. Mad-Eye Moody (Brendan Gleeson) is murdered. Dobby (Toby Jones) is killed trying to save his friends. George (Oliver Phelps) is maimed. Ron (Rupert Grint) spirals. Hermione (Emma Watson) is tortured. Snape (Alan Rickman) watches an old friend die while playing a role that grows more morally complex by the minute.
Is ‘Deathly Hallows — Part 1’ Worth Watching?
Collider’s review was one that praised the efforts made to do something just a bit different. In an A- review, it said:
“Despite an emphasis on these characters being lost, both directionally and spiritually, Deathly Hallows– Part 1 is still a movie that knows how to have fun. It just always mixes in the thrills with the sorrow. You can have a high-speed broom chase, but not everyone will make it out unscathed.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 is a triumph. It eschews the safety the series has brought so far not just in story but in tone. David Yates and his leading actors have managed to tell a story steeped in uncertainty with the utmost confidence.”
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows — Part 1 is on HBO Max now.
- Release Date
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November 17, 2010
- Runtime
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146 minutes
- Writers
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Steve Kloves, J.K. Rowling
- Producers
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David Barron, David Heyman, J.K. Rowling
