Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (film)
A 2002 fantasy film, second in the Harry Potter series.
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, released in 2002, is a fantasy film helmed by Chris Columbus and written by Steve Kloves. It adapts J. K. Rowling’s 1998 novel of the same name and serves as the second movie in the Harry Potter series, following *Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone* from the previous year. David Heyman produced the film. The story centers on Harry’s sophomore year at Hogwarts, where the Chamber of Secrets is opened by Salazar Slytherin’s heir, releasing a creature that turns students to stone. Daniel Radcliffe plays Harry, with Rupert Grint and Emma Watson portraying his closest friends, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger. Warner Bros. Pictures launched the film on November 15, 2002, in both the UK and the US. It was a hit with critics and audiences alike, earning $878 million globally and ranking as the second highest-grossing film of 2002. Award nominations included BAFTAs for Best Production Design, Best Sound, and Best Special Visual Effects. The next installment, *Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban*, followed in 2004.
**Plot** Harry’s summer with the Dursleys is interrupted by a house-elf named Dobby, who warns of danger at Hogwarts and tries to keep him away by ruining a dinner with Vernon Dursley’s client. Vernon retaliates by locking Harry up, but Ron Weasley, along with his brothers Fred and George, rescues him in their father’s flying car. In Diagon Alley, Harry meets Hermione and encounters the new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, Gilderoy Lockhart, as well as Draco Malfoy and his father Lucius, whom Harry spots slipping a book into Ginny Weasley’s cauldron. Unable to get through the barrier at Platform Nine and Three-Quarters, Harry and Ron fly the car to Hogwarts, crashing into the Whomping Willow and breaking Ron’s wand. During detention, Harry hears a strange voice and finds Argus Filch’s cat, Mrs. Norris, petrified with a bloody message: “The Chamber of Secrets has been opened, enemies of the heir... beware.” It’s said that Hogwarts founder Salazar Slytherin built a secret chamber housing a monster that only his heir can control, meant to rid the school of Muggle-borns. Suspecting Malfoy is the heir, Harry, Ron, and Hermione plan to interrogate him.
A rogue Bludger breaks Harry’s arm during a Quidditch match; while recovering, Dobby admits he blocked the barrier and caused the Bludger to force Har
- release_date
- 15 November 2002
- director
- Chris Columbus
- screenplay
- Steve Kloves
- producer
- David Heyman
- based_on
- 1998 novel by J. K. Rowling
- box_office
- $878 million worldwide
- followed_by
- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)
Lore & Background
The film stars Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter, with Rupert Grint as Ron Weasley and Emma Watson as Hermione Granger. The plot begins with Harry spending the summer with the Dursleys, where a house-elf named Dobby warns him of impending danger. After being rescued by Ron and his brothers, Harry and Ron fly a car to Hogwarts, crash into the Whomping Willow, and later discover that the Chamber of Secrets has been opened. Harry, Ron, and Hermione investigate, suspecting Draco Malfoy, but learn through polyjuice potion that he is not the heir. They find an enchanted diary belonging to Tom Marvolo Riddle, who blames Hagrid for opening the Chamber. When Hermione is petrified, Harry and Ron follow spiders into the Forbidden Forest and learn the monster is a basilisk. Ginny Weasley is taken into the Chamber; Harry enters alone, confronts Riddle (Voldemort's younger self), and kills the basilisk with the Sword of Gryffindor. Harry destroys the diary, revives Ginny, and later tricks Lucius Malfoy into freeing Dobby.
Reader's Guide
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets was released in the United Kingdom and the United States on 15 November 2002 by Warner Bros. Pictures. It became a critical and commercial success, grossing $878 million worldwide and becoming the second-highest-grossing film of 2002. The film was nominated for several awards, including the BAFTA Award for Best Production Design, Best Sound, and Best Special Visual Effects. It is notable as the final live-action film of Richard Harris, who played Albus Dumbledore before his death; the role was taken over by Michael Gambon from the next film onward. The film's cast includes Kenneth Branagh as Gilderoy Lockhart, Jason Isaacs as Lucius Malfoy, and many returning actors from the first film. Its legacy lies in continuing the Harry Potter film series, setting up the darker tone of later instalments, and introducing key elements such as the basilisk, the Chamber of Secrets, and Dobby the house-elf.
Did You Know?
- The film is based on the 1998 novel by J. K. Rowling.
- Richard Harris died shortly before the film's release; this was his final live-action film.
- Jason Isaacs provided the voice of the Basilisk.
- The film grossed $878 million worldwide, becoming the second-highest-grossing film of 2002.
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