really tense
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
-
Is it age appropriate?
About our ratings -
Is it any good?
-
Common Sense says
Action- and creature-packed Potter sequel.
Themes in this movie include: celebrity / fame, facing fears, friendship
Why We Rated This 
for Ages 8 and Up
The good stuff
What to watch out for
-
Violence & scariness:
-
Sexy stuff:
-
Language:
-
Consumerism:
-
Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
What Parents Need to Know
This review of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets was written by Nell Minow
Parents need to know that this movie is scarier than the first in the series and characters spend a lot of time in extreme peril. There are frightening creatures, including lots 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 good guys are ultimately fine. Children who are not familiar with the story, however, may be upset. There are also some gross moments when Ron's spell backfires and he spits up slugs, and when another misapplied spell leaves Harry without any bones in his forearm. Friendship, love, bravery, and loyalty are always major themes in the series. So is the idea of making good choices.
Families Can Talk About
Talk to your kids about the media in their life. We have more tools and tips that can help
- Families can talk about year two at Hogwarts and what Harry learns about himself. What traits are helping him become a hero figure? Why must he face is enemy alone? What do we find out about Tom Riddle and his diary later in the series that make them so important?
Have you seen it? Review It!
More on Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
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 Quiddich matches keep the story moving as Harry and friends soar through their second year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. As this episode begins, Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) gets a visit at the Dursley's from an odd little house elf named Dobby, who warns him 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's nemesis, Draco Malfoy (Tom Felton), is now his opponent on the Quidditch field. Harry is the only one who can hear a strange voice echoing through the halls. And he is in the wrong place at the wrong time when some very bad and scary things happen. It seems that there is a Chamber of Secrets that has not 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 if they are right. The two adults Harry trusts most, Hagrid and Dumbledore, 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?
Those who are looking for a meticulous realization of a beloved book and those who come to the theater knowing only the first movie -- or even with no knowledge of Harry Potter at all -- will find this chapter a thrilling, eye-filling, and an utterly satisfying experience. There is a wealth of detail and delight to entrance viewers so much that they will leave wanting more, even after a running time of 2 hours and 40 minutes. Every frame is filled with wonder, especially Diagon Alley and the moving photos and portraits.
The child actors are growing up and they seem more comfortable in their roles here, bringing more depth and subtlety to their acting, and wildly funny as the new Hogwarts professor. And there are some magnificent cast additions, especially Jason Isaacs, coolly cruel as Lucius Malfoy, father of Harry's foe Draco.
Movie Details
Studio: Warner Bros., Director: Chris Columbus
Run time: 161 minutes
Theatrical release: 11/15/2002, DVD release: 4/11/2003
MPAA Rating: PG for scary moments, some creature violence and mild language
Run time: 161 minutes
Theatrical release: 11/15/2002, DVD release: 4/11/2003
MPAA Rating: PG for scary moments, some creature violence and mild language
Our Members Say
See 65 member reviews
Most Recent Reviews
-
I rate this title on for age 9 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
-
I rate this title on for age 13 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate language
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
This is a great movie but the snake scene is iffy but overall I loved it and it is very accurate to the book as well 5 stars
-
I rate this title off for age 6 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate language
It was great movie to grow up with. magic is cool but for kids. i know got scared at the end when harry kill that snake with the sword.(lots of blood) but still a kids movie over all i give it a 84/100-best for ages 8+
-
I rate this title on for age 9 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate language
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
Pretty good movie at the end scared me the first time i saw it harry ron and hermionie good role models at the end its harry and ron but ron said some things and that is it with this movie but it was still great
-
I rate this title on for age 9 and give it
The Chamber of Entertainment
I can really remember it, but this is what I have to tell you: It was good family entertainment.
-
I rate this title on for age 8 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
Great Family Film
This is a fantastic family, adventure film. I have seen it hundreads of times and loved every second of it. I am a massive Harry Potter fan and all of them are amazing. However it can get a bit scary and possibly too much for younger children. Not much gore, but not none.
-
I rate this title on for age 9 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
Warner Bros. has Done it Again!
This was a very good Harry Potter movie because of the drama and story. If you've read the book like I have, then you'll feel right at home watching this movie. It even has some quotes from the book. Although some of the sentences are inaccurate like the serpent being able to hear you instead of smell you, I can still overlook that with a happy thought.
-
I rate this title on for age 8 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
Magic and monsters...
God, I why do I like this movie so much? Possibly because the actors and scenery are SPOT ON from the book. Hmm, I wonder...
-
I rate this title iffy for age 7 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
it might be the most bloody in the series
im my opinion there is alot of blood, example: a bird pecks a snakes eyes out, harry gets a fang stuck in his arm, a sword goes through the top of a snakes mouth, stuff like that
-
I rate this title on for age 9 and give it
pretty good for a kid film
its a pretty good film i just cant remember much about it cause i havent seen it in 2 years
-
Kids ages: 9
I rate this title on for age 5 and give it- My highlights are:
- Good role models
harry potter rules!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
this is such a great film but i especially recommend the book ( there great!!!.... but i think the last book should be for ages 10 + just my opinion )
-
Kids ages: 5, 7
I rate this title iffy for age 5 and give it- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
MY KIDS WILL REALLY LOVE THESE MOVIES IN ABOUT 3 YEARS!
I REALLY LOVE THIS MOVIE! A lot of action, I think that Fred and George Weasley really complete this movie. Me and my kids watch it a lot. We think it is better than the first. It was scary the first time for them, but then they were fine. In fact, I still love it more than them. However, I don't let them any Harry Potter movies past THE PRISONER OF ASKABAN-I probably didn't spell that right. Now they beg me for BETTIE BOTT'S EVERY FLAVOR BEANS-they love that idea. But I don't think that consumerism is an issue. Overall, a bright, wonderful movie about young friends and the battle of good and evil!
-
Kids ages: 10
I rate this title on for age 8 and give it- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate language
I love it.!!!!!!!!!!! Why is Dobby so crazy? Harry is really lucky he did not die. I am 9 years old (mom is with me).
-
Kids ages: 10
I rate this title on for age 8 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate language
I love it.!!!!!!!!!!! Why is Dobby so crazy? Harry is really lucky he did not die. I am 9 years old (mom is with me).
-
Kids ages: 10
I rate this title on for age 8 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate language
I love it.!!!!!!!!!!! Why is Dobby so crazy? Harry is really lucky he did not die. I am 9 years old (mom is with me).
-
I rate this title iffy for age 10 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
Another outstanding Harry Potter masterpiece.
I haven't seen all of this movie yet, I only saw part of it on TV, but I've read the book. The movie has some scary scenes and a violent battle between Harry and the monster in the chamber of secrets, but I think many 10 year olds could handle this.
-
I rate this title on for age 7 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
LOVE IT
I LOVE IT SO MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Watch it all the time. Ron has very funny faces. I'm reading the 3 book still. I think the end is kinda like Sleeping beauty. They talk a lot about Lord Voldemort. And it is a little bit scary. For young kids.
-
I rate this title iffy for age 8 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
good movie
the movie is good but it has more peril and a lot more bloody vilonce then the first. And hermionie is called a mud blood by draco, which Isnt exactly a bad word but little kids might think it would be funny to copy it therefore saying it to someone else. Besides that it's A-OK!
-
Kids ages: 6, 8
I rate this title on for age 7 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
I am 8 and I am a big harry potter fan. And I loved this movie so much. my mom and I are reading the third book.My mom says it will be a year or two before I can watch the movie.I think the faces that Ron makes in this movie are really funny. my little sister is 6 she really wants to see it to.
-
I rate this title on for age 7 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
SEE IT.
This Harry Potter movie is a very good one. I like it very much and I think that the movie people did a VERY good job on Dobby the house elf.
Give Recommendations, Get Them, Too!
Become a member and get recommendations from other parents based on your child's age.Tell us your child's age:
Already a member? Log inOur Members Rate It
Ratings at a Glance
| 32% | of parents say it's too violent |
Have you seen it?
For Your Family
Get age-based recommendations for your kids:
Customize based on your child's age
Lists for kids who love magic
Best Magical Movies
Fantasy Series for Harry Potter Fans, Part 1
See more lists
