Parents' Guide to

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1

By Sandie Angulo Chen, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 12+

Excellent, epic saga continues to get darker, more intense.

Movie PG-13 2010 150 minutes
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

See all
age 11+

Based on 92 parent reviews

Currylou
Currylou Adult
January 14, 2021
age 11+

Dark, a bit slow paced, but overall good for tweens

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is the darkest movie in the series so far, by a mile. It isn’t a comical movie, and expect the characters, when not traveling, to be in constant peril. This is, only part 1, so there is a cliffhanger, and no huge climax. I would say, if watching this with your little ones there is one scene in particular to skip. After pulling Harry out of a lake, Harry tells him to stab a locket. Get ready to skip when they start having this conversation. The locket creates and illusion of Harry and Hermione kissing passionately, and they are suggestively naked. Of course, only their torsos are shown, and mist obscures the rest of their body, but it is still a bit iffy. Later on, Hermione gets tortured, and you hear her very distinctly scream, and also see some of it happening. It could be a bit distressing to hear, but you only see her laying on the floor crying, and there is little to no gore.

This title has:

Great role models
2 people found this helpful.
solo58
solo58 Parent of 12 and 14-year-old
December 8, 2010
age 11+

Too scary for Tweens, unclear if you didn't read the book

This was a painful movie to see with my 12 and 14 year old children. It was so dark, and frightening. And the story was unclear for anyone who had not written the book. There are even some sexual innuendos between the main characters. If the objective of the film is to scare everyone with every scene, then they accomplished their mission. Skip this movie until you have 15+ year olds.

This title has:

Too much violence
Too much sex
2 people found this helpful.
See all 92 parent reviews

What's the Story?

With Professor Dumbledore (Michael Gambon) dead and the Ministry of Magic under Lord Voldemort's (Ralph Fiennes) control at the start of HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS: PART 1, Harry (Daniel Radcliffe), Ron (Rupert Grint), and Hermione (Emma Watson) embark on a dangerous mission to search for five missing horcruxes (fragments of Voldemort's soul). Wanted and on the run, the trio goes in search of their first horcrux, Slytherin's locket. Cut off from the rest of the wizarding world, their mission is complicated by stress, fear, and frustration ... which leads to friction and confrontation. But interpersonal matters fade in comparison to threats from Death Eaters, Snatchers, and the Dark Lord's other supporters -- including the Malfoy family and Bellatrix Lestrange (Helena Bonham Carter). Meanwhile, Voldemort is on the hunt himself, not just for Harry, but also for something he believes will aid him in his goal to kill the Chosen One.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (92 ):
Kids say (458 ):

The movie alternates between being a frenetic, nail-biting thriller and a slow-moving adolescent relationship drama set against a beautifully shot, expansive backdrop. Director David Yates, back for his third Potter film, speeds through the action sequences early in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 -- like the fantastic Seven Potters scene, in which six of Harry's friends masquerade as him so that they can help move him to safety. But the second act, when Harry, Ron, and Hermione are camping, hiding, and waiting for inspiration can lag, though there's a sweet moment between Harry and Hermione that needs no words. The series' most fervent fans may feel disappointed that some scenes and characters were barely in the movie; it would have been great to see more of Remus (David Thewlis), the Weasleys (especially the twins and Ginny), Neville (Matthew Lewis, who only gets one line), and more. And an entire review could be dedicated to all of the important details in the novel that didn't make the cut.

Despite this, there are fabulous supporting performances by Bill Nighy as the Minister of Magic; Rhys Ifans as Quibbler editor Xenophilous Lovegood; Toby Jones as selfless, noble Dobby; and Evanna Lynch, who's always been pitch-perfect as delightfully quirky Luna Lovegood. There are some great moments of physical comedy, too. As always, though, the heart of the movie comes down to Radcliffe, Grint, and Watson, all of whom give touching, nuanced portrayals as they deal with complicated emotions and terrifying circumstances. Grint in particular is finally able to show some depth as he struggles to balance his love for Hermione, his jealousy of Harry, and his general sense of insecurity. These aren't three kids any more: They're a 17-year-old hero and his best friends, willing to give up everything to save the wizarding world. It's a massive undertaking to depict, and Part 2 provides an appropriately awesome ending.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about whether Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 is an appropriate movie for younger kids, even if they've seen or read the books. Discuss whether your child is truly ready for this movie, which is very dark and disturbing at times. (And for more, check out our age-by-age guide to Harry Potter.)

  • Why does Harry need help on his journey? What do Hermione and Ron offer him that no one else can? Can you think of other movie/literary heroes who require a lot of help on their life-or-death journeys?

  • How does Ron's departure affect Harry and Hermione? How did the locket horcrux torment Ron, and what did it confirm about his self-esteem? Did he redeem himself by his return?

  • If you've read the book, what parts of the novel were left out? Which were faithfully adapted? How did you feel about the characters who died in the movie?

  • How do the characters in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 demonstrate teamwork, perseverance, and courage? Why are those important character strengths?

Movie Details

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.

See all recommended movie lists

Related Topics

Want suggestions based on your streaming services? Get personalized recommendations

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate