
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
By Cynthia Fuchs,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Excellent, but magical adventures getting edgier, darker.

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Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Community Reviews
Based on 50 parent reviews
Really good movie for kids who can handle it
Good summary of the book, starts the transition to more tween topics
What's the Story?
In HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE, Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) and friends are 14 now and growing up fast, having crushes, and realizing what huge expectations the wizarding world has for them during dangerous times. This year, Hogwarts hosts guests from two other schools -- Beauxbatons Academy and Durmstrang Institute -- for the Triwizard Tournament. The Tournament contestants are selected by the magical Goblet of Fire; they must fight dragons, figure out a dangerous underwater rescue, and find their way out of a dangerous maze. But Harry is on his own against his true enemy.
Is It Any Good?
The fourth film in the Harry Potter series tends to move steadily from plot point to plot point, ensuring that each beloved character from the novel gets at least a brief moment on screen. When Harry, Hermione (Emma Watson), and Ron (Rupert Grint) attend the Quidditch World Cup in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, they witness the full-on effects of sports celebrity: Fans cheer and stomp their feet, and magical images of the players shimmer over the crowd. The fact that the World Cup site is destroyed by Lord Voldemort's (Ralph Fiennes) Death Eaters hardly brings pause.
The Triwizard Tournament extends the movie's thematic interest in celebrity. In due course, Harry is exposed to cheating (by adult coaches who mean for their charges to win) and not a little bit of emotional and physical abuse. The movie makes us ask whether 14- or 17-year-old kids should have to be warriors and survivors. Harry and his friends must undergo pain, work through fear, and even decide whether to fight back or inflict pain. Growing up is a difficult transition on-screen or off, and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire makes being a teen look pretty unpleasant. That being said, this film is as good as the others in the series, and kids old enough to handle the scary elements will surely enjoy it.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire'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 characters' age?
For kids who read the book the film is based on, 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? How do Harry's actions reveal his integrity?
Between famous Quidditch players and the Triwizard Tournament participants, celebrity culture creeps into the wizarding world. How does Harry react to his fame? Does he remain humble?
How do the characters in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire demonstrate courage, perseverance, and teamwork? Why are these important character strengths?
Movie Details
- In theaters: November 18, 2005
- On DVD or streaming: March 7, 2006
- Cast: Daniel Radcliffe , Emma Watson , Rupert Grint
- Director: Mike Newell
- Studio: Warner Bros.
- Genre: Fantasy
- Topics: Magic and Fantasy
- Character Strengths: Courage , Humility , Integrity , Perseverance , Teamwork
- Run time: 156 minutes
- MPAA rating: PG-13
- MPAA explanation: sequences of fantasy violence and frightening images.
- Last updated: November 2, 2023
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