Common Sense Media Review
By Sandie Angulo Chen
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Terrific but intense mix of love, friendship, fear, sorrow.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 12+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 125 parent reviews
Based on 381 kid reviews
Kids say the film leans heavily towards romance rather than the action and magic that many fans were hoping for, resulting in mixed reviews where some appreciated its emotional depth while others criticized the deviation from the book and lack of vital plot points. The darker themes, including significant character deaths, make it more suitable for older children, especially those familiar with the associated literature.
- romance focus
- character deaths
- mixed reviews
- dark themes
- age-appropriate
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
In the face of Lord Voldemort's growing power at the start of HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE, Professor Dumbledore (Michael Gambon) asks Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) to help convince retired potions professor Horace Slughorn (Jim Broadbent) to return to his old teaching post. Once back at Hogwarts, Dumbledore tasks Harry with befriending Slughorn -- who plays favorites -- in order to recover a crucial memory of former student Tom Riddle (11-year-old version played by Hero Fiennes Tiffin, 16-year-old by Frank Dillane), who grew up to become "You Know Who." Meanwhile, Ron (Rupert Grint) and Hermione (Emma Watson) deal with their growing attraction to each other, and the Death Eaters enlist Professor Snape (Alan Rickman) to assist Draco Malfoy (Tom Felton) in carrying out the Dark Lord's evil bidding.
Is It Any Good?
David Yates, who took over the franchise with the fifth movie, has created a mature, relationship-focused installment. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince masterfully sets the stage for the high-stakes finale. (Deathly Hallows was so epic that it was split into two movies.) Not all of the characters and scenes from the book make it into the film adaptation. Fans will have to deal with no scenes set in Defense Against the Dark Arts class (Snape is finally the teacher), hardly any Neville (Matthew Lewis) or Weasley twins (James Phelps and Oliver Phelps), and a bit too much foreshadowing.
What Yates does offer is an incredibly human look at how adolescent wizards deal with their burgeoning hormones: "Won Won" lands his first girlfriend, Hermione acknowledges the extent of her undeclared feelings for Ron, and Harry realizes that his best friend's kid sister, Ginny (Bonnie Wright, who really comes into her own this time), just might be his match. It's adorable -- and spot-on -- that even during the darkest times, teenagers still want to snog. As emotional as the film's climactic scene is, there's a small sense of relief in knowing that Harry still isn't alone. He has loyal, unconditional friends ready to risk their lives so that light can prevail over darkness.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the best age for kids (and eager parents) to see Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince and start getting into the Harry Potter series. Is it OK to read all the books (and see all the movies) at the same age?
What do you think of the way the movie depicts the teens' romantic relationships? Are they believable? Is the story too hormone-filled for younger viewers?
What do we learn about Voldemort's past in this movie? Does that change the way you feel about him?
If you've read the book, what parts of the novel were left out? Which were faithfully adapted? How does this movie compare to the earlier ones as an adaptation?
How do the characters in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince demonstrate courage, perseverance, and teamwork? Why are these important character strengths?
Movie Details
- In theaters : July 15, 2009
- On DVD or streaming : December 8, 2009
- Cast : Daniel Radcliffe , Emma Watson , Michael Gambon , Rupert Grint
- Director : David Yates
- Studio : Warner Bros.
- Genre : Fantasy
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Adventures , Book Characters , Friendship
- Character Strengths : Courage , Perseverance , Teamwork
- Run time : 153 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : scary images, some violence, language and mild sensuality
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
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
Suggest an Update
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