Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1
First of two parts adapting the final Harry Potter novel.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1, a 2010 fantasy film, was directed by David Yates with a script by Steve Kloves. It serves as the first half of a two-part adaptation of J. K. Rowling’s 2007 novel, following Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009) as the seventh movie in the series. The story centers on Harry, who, following Dumbledore’s request, must locate and eliminate Lord Voldemort’s Horcruxes—objects containing pieces of the dark wizard’s soul.
Production began on 19 February 2009 and wrapped on 12 June 2010. Warner Bros. Pictures released the film in 2D and IMAX formats in the UK and US on 19 November 2010. In its worldwide opening weekend, it earned $330 million, ranking third among Harry Potter films, the highest opening of 2010, and the eighth-highest globally at the time. With a total worldwide gross of $960 million, it became the third-highest-grossing film of 2010, the tenth-highest ever, and the third-highest in the Potter series.
Critics gave the film positive reviews, and it earned nominations for the Academy Awards for Best Art Direction and Best Visual Effects. The story concluded with Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 in 2011.
**Plot** The film opens with Severus Snape reporting to Lord Voldemort and his Death Eaters at Malfoy Manor that the Order of the Phoenix will move Harry Potter—now unprotected by his mother’s spell—to a safe house. Voldemort and his followers attack Harry in Surrey, killing Hedwig and Mad-Eye Moody. Harry escapes to the Weasley home, where he, Ron, and Hermione receive bequests from the late Albus Dumbledore: a Deluminator for Ron, *The Tales of Beedle the Bard* for Hermione, and the Golden Snitch from Harry’s first Quidditch match. Dumbledore also left Harry the Sword of Gryffindor, but it has vanished.
At Bill Weasley and Fleur Delacour’s wedding, guests learn the Ministry has fallen and Minister Rufus Scrimgeour is dead. Death Eaters attack, and the trio flees to Number 12, Grimmauld Place. There, Ron deduces that Sirius Black’s brother, Regulus, stole Salazar Slytherin’s locket from Voldemort. After learning that thief Mundungus Fletcher sold it to Dolores Umbridge, they infiltrate the Ministry and recover the locket. Death Eaters discover them, and Hermione hastily disapparates them to a forest, where they begin hunting and destroying Voldemort’s Horcruxes, starting with the
- release_year
- 2010
- director
- David Yates
- screenwriter
- Steve Kloves
- based_on
- 2007 novel by J. K. Rowling
- box_office_worldwide
- $960 million
- opening_weekend_worldwide
- $330 million
- running_time
- Not specified in article
Lore & Background
The film stars Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter, with Rupert Grint and Emma Watson as Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger. The plot begins with Severus Snape meeting Voldemort and Death Eaters at Malfoy Manor, reporting the Order of the Phoenix's plan to move Harry. After escaping an attack that kills Hedwig and Mad-Eye Moody, Harry, Ron, and Hermione receive bequests from Dumbledore: a Deluminator, a copy of The Tales of Beedle the Bard, and the Golden Snitch. They learn the Sword of Gryffindor is missing. At Bill Weasley and Fleur Delacour's wedding, they learn the Ministry has fallen and Scrimgeour is dead. They escape to Grimmauld Place, where Ron deduces Regulus Black stole Slytherin's locket from Voldemort. They infiltrate the Ministry to recover the locket from Dolores Umbridge, then begin their journey to destroy the Horcruxes. Ron leaves after an argument, but later returns to rescue Harry and destroy the locket with Gryffindor's sword. They learn about the Deathly Hallows from Xenophilius Lovegood, are captured by Snatchers, and taken to Malfoy Manor. Dobby rescues them but is fatally wounded by Bellatrix Lestrange. Voldemort retrieves the Elder Wand from Dumbledore's tomb.
Reader's Guide
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 was released in 2D and IMAX formats on 19 November 2010 by Warner Bros. Pictures. It grossed $330 million worldwide in its opening weekend, the highest opening of 2010 and the third-highest in the series. With a worldwide gross of $960 million, it became the third-highest-grossing film of 2010, the tenth highest-grossing film of all time at the time, and the third-highest-grossing Harry Potter film. The film received positive reviews and was nominated for Academy Awards for Best Art Direction and Best Visual Effects. Filming took place from 19 February 2009 to 12 June 2010, shot back-to-back with Part 2. Director David Yates described Part 1 as a 'road movie' and 'almost like a vérité documentary'. The decision to split the book into two parts was suggested by executive producer Lionel Wigram and initially met with resistance from producer David Heyman, but after rereading the book and discussing it with screenwriter Steve Kloves, the division was agreed upon. The film was followed by Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 in 2011.
Did You Know?
- The film was shot back-to-back with Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 from 19 February 2009 to 12 June 2010.
- The idea to split the book into two parts was suggested by executive producer Lionel Wigram.
- Set designer Stuart Craig was nominated for an Academy Award for his work on Part 1.
- The film's worldwide opening weekend gross of $330 million was the highest opening of 2010.
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