Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (film)
A 2009 fantasy film, the sixth in the Harry Potter series.
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, released in 2009, is a fantasy film directed by David Yates with a script by Steve Kloves. It adapts J. K. Rowling's 2005 novel of the same name and serves as the sixth movie in the Harry Potter series, following *Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix*. The main cast includes Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter, with Rupert Grint and Emma Watson playing his best friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger. The story covers Harry's sixth year at Hogwarts, where he discovers an annotated textbook, develops romantic feelings, and works to recover a crucial memory that could help defeat Lord Voldemort.
Production started on 24 September 2007, and the film was released worldwide in cinemas on 15 July 2009. Its budget was roughly $250 million, making it one of the costliest films ever produced and the most expensive entry in the Harry Potter franchise. Warner Bros. Pictures distributed it in both standard 2D and IMAX formats in the UK and US on that date. Critics widely praised the movie for its visual effects, character growth, acting, darker atmosphere, and loyalty to the original book. Commercially, it earned about $941 million globally, ranking as the second highest-grossing film of 2009. Its opening five-day worldwide gross of $394 million set a new record at the time. The film received several award nominations, including an Academy Award for Best Cinematography and BAFTA nods for Best Production Design and Best Special Visual Effects. It was succeeded by *Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1* in 2010.
**Plot**
Voldemort expands his control over both the magical and non-magical worlds: his Death Eaters kidnap wandmaker Ollivander and destroy the Millennium Bridge. With Lucius Malfoy in Azkaban, Voldemort tasks his son, Draco Malfoy, with a secret mission at Hogwarts. Draco’s mother Narcissa and aunt Bellatrix Lestrange visit Severus Snape, who claims to be a spy for the Order of the Phoenix. Snape makes an Unbreakable Vow with Narcissa to protect Draco and ensure his task is completed.
Harry goes with Albus Dumbledore to persuade former Potions professor Horace Slughorn to return to Hogwarts. At the Burrow, Harry reunites with Ron and Hermione. In Diagon Alley, they spot Draco and Narcissa Malfoy and follow them into Knockturn Alley, where the pair meet Death Eaters, including the werewolf Fenrir Greyback. H
- release_date
- 15 July 2009
- director
- David Yates
- screenplay_by
- Steve Kloves
- based_on
- 2005 novel by J. K. Rowling
- budget
- $250 million
- box_office
- $941 million worldwide
- running_time
- Not specified in source
Lore & Background
Filming began on 24 September 2007, leading to the film's worldwide cinematic release on 15 July 2009. With an estimated budget of $250 million, it is one of the most expensive films ever made and the most expensive film in the Harry Potter film series. The film was released in 2D cinemas and IMAX formats in the United Kingdom and United States on 15 July 2009, by Warner Bros. Pictures. It was widely acclaimed by critics, with praise for the visual effects, character development, performances, darker tone, and faithfulness to the source material. The film was a major box office success, grossing $941 million worldwide, making it the second-highest-grossing film of 2009. It also grossed $394 million worldwide during its opening, which made it the highest worldwide five-day opening at the time. The film was nominated for many awards, including the Academy Award for Best Cinematography and the BAFTA Award for Best Production Design and Best Special Visual Effects. It was followed by Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 in 2010.
Reader's Guide
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is significant as the sixth instalment in the Harry Potter film series, bridging the earlier films with the two-part finale. Its darker tone and focus on character development, particularly Harry's romantic feelings and the backstory of Voldemort's Horcruxes, set the stage for the concluding story. The film's commercial success, with a record-breaking worldwide five-day opening and total gross of $941 million, demonstrated the enduring popularity of the franchise. Its technical achievements were recognized with nominations for an Academy Award for Best Cinematography and BAFTA Awards for Best Production Design and Best Special Visual Effects. The film also introduced key plot elements—such as the Half-Blood Prince's identity and the Horcrux hunt—that directly lead into the final two films. The cast, including Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson, reprised their roles, and the film featured notable additions like Jim Broadbent as Horace Slughorn and Hero Fiennes Tiffin as young Tom Riddle.
Did You Know?
- The film had an estimated budget of $250 million, making it the most expensive film in the Harry Potter series.
- It grossed $394 million worldwide during its opening, the highest worldwide five-day opening at the time.
- The film was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Cinematography.
- Hero Fiennes Tiffin portrayed 11-year-old Tom Riddle, with Frank Dillane playing the 16-year-old version.
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