Tools for this page
Print

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

(2005, Rated PG-13, Fantasy, Starring Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson)
  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

    (Flash is loading. If this text does not disappear you need to install the latest flash version)

    Not age appropriate for kids under 8, age appropriate for kids over 12; suggested age 12.
  • Is it any good?

    4.0
  • Common Sense says

    Excellent, but the PG-13 is accurate.

updated 06.26.09

Why We Rated This on for Ages 12 and Up

The good stuff

  • Messages:

    It's a good and evil story ... no surprises here. Friendship, love, bravery, and loyalty are always major themes in the series. So is the idea of making good choices. Diverse cast and strong female characters.
 

What to watch out for

  • Violence :

    Two deaths, including one very stirring death of a teen. No blood is shown, but lifeless bodies are. Children are in peril, often at the hands of magical creatures: dragons burn, chase, and cut Triwizard competitors; mermaids brandish spears as students are held captive underwater. A spider is tortured in a class demonstration. A hand is severed and sacrificed, and Harry is tortured by a curse, writhing in pain.
  • Sex :

    Some references to 14-year-olds' sexual interest; Harry accosted in the bathtub by a ghostly girl; some couples kiss in the shadows after the Yule Ball.
  • Language:

    "Bloody hell," "piss off," and similar light curses.
  • Consumerism:

    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 playsets, wands, Band Aids... you name it.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Madame Maxime's horses only drink single-malt whiskey. Students drink butterbeer -- a magical-world drink with a pinch of alcohol.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Parents need to know that this film has two deaths (including a really sad one), scary creatures, some romantic yearnings, and edge-of-the-seat scenes. With each film the scariness quotient increases. This movie features fighting dragons, tortured bugs, a scary huge maze, and an underwater horror show. Young kids who don't understand the difference between fantasy and reality should stay clear. So should kids going through an anxious time about unnamed terrors or unwanted separations, as one of the death scenes is upsetting. The action is sometimes rowdy, and camera movements/edits are aggressive, all of which increase the scary effects. One of the deleted scenes featured on the DVD shows teen couples after the Yule Ball getting caught kissing, etc., in carriages -- it's a little more sexual content than you get in the feature film.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about the film's more mature content and who this movie is targeted to. Young kids are going to want to see this -- should the movie have been toned down or is the violent content appropriate given the age of the characters? For kids who read the book, which plot points got left out that you missed? Why do you think they left out the house elves? What role did they serve in the books? Cheating is rampant among the teachers and judges involved in the Triwizard competition, but not among the competitors. Why do you think this is? Does Ron have a right to be jealous if he didn't ask Hermione to the ball?
Want more? Get Common Sense recommendations delivered to your inbox.
Enter your email address
I am over 13 years old
Tell us your child's age
Why we ask
Why we ask
Providing your kids' age allows us to give you personalized recommendations for your family on our site and in our weekly newsletter (coming soon) - so you get better information, faster.Your privacy is our priority.

You are now subscribed to the Common Sense weekly newsletter!

To write reviews and create a public profile, complete your account set-up here.

Our Members Say

Have You Seen It? Review It!

  • What did you think about Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire?
  •  I think this movie is

    for ages

  •  I also give it

  •  Any concerns?

  •  Any highlights?

  •  Love it? Hate it?

  • or to post a review
See all 129 member reviews

Most Recent Reviews

  1. Kid Reviewer
    Age 11
    Lives in Ohio
    I rate this title iffy for age 10 and give it 4.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence

    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages
    • Good role models

    realy loveble story just a little to violent to take kids under ten.

  2. Teen Reviewer
    Age 14
    Lives in Maryland
    I rate this title on for age 11 and give it 5.0

  3. I rate this title iffy for age 11 and give it 4.0

    Recommended!

    Very cool movie. There are other "magic-spell" filled movie in the world...and they seem a little lame on the abracadabra spells, but this film is not one of those movies. This is awesome in so many ways! The story line, and the visual effects are really cool and the acting was well done. But I hope audiences (most particularly girls) won't watch this film only for the reason that the actor who plays Cedric Diggory is also Edward Cullen in Twilight. Harry Potter deserves better credit than that.

  4. Teen Reviewer
    Age 17
    Lives in Florida
    I rate this title on for age 13 and give it 4.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence

    It shows Harry's arm cut open in 2 scenes, the graveyard and Professor Moody's office. It also shows the Avada Kadevera Spell, killing curse, 4 times in the movie, on Harry, the caretaker, on a spider, and on Cedric Diggory. Then it shows the Crucio Spell, merciless pain, being cast on Harry in the graveyard. Then it shows Wormtail cutting off his arm, very quickly, but it still shows some of it.

  5. Kid Reviewer
    Age 12
    Lives in Minnesota
    I rate this title on for age 10 and give it 4.0

Find movies reviews by title

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z 0-9

More Great Stuff For Your Kids

  • New in Theaters

    Terminator Salvation

    Terminator Salvation

    First PG-13 Terminator is loud, explosive, and dark.

  • Advice for Parents

     iPhones, Apps, and Preschoolers

    iPhones, Apps, and Preschoolers

    Do you let your kid use your smartphone?

  • Tech Tip

    A how-to guide for parents. Google Safe Search

    A how-to guide for parents.

  • Pick of the Week

    Swing, Batter Batter

    Swing, Batter Batter

    Best baseball games for kids.

  • Sound Check

    Relapse

    Relapse

    Social value lost in glorification of pills, rape, murder.