Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009)
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Harry Potter must navigate his sixth year at Hogwarts while uncovering a mysterious textbook and a deadly secret involving Lord Voldemort.
The story
During his sixth year at Hogwarts, Harry Potter discovers a mysterious, used Potions textbook filled with advanced notes and spells from a mysterious figure known as the Half-Blood Prince. As he uses the book to excel in his studies and impress the newly appointed Potions master, Horace Slughorn, Harry also finds himself entangled in a web of mystery involving his friends Ron and Hermione. Amidst the growing tension of the wizarding world, Harry must navigate the complexities of his education, his burgeoning feelings for Ginny Weasley, and the looming threat of Lord Voldemort's rising power.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Lord Voldemort's influence grows as his Death Eaters attack London and kidnap a wandmaker. Draco Malfoy is tasked with a secret mission at Hogwarts, supported by his mother and Bellatrix Lestrange. At Hogwarts, Harry finds a Potions textbook belonging to the 'Half-Blood Prince,' which helps him excel in class and gain favor with Horace Slughorn. Meanwhile, Ron and Hermione deal with their own complications, including Ron's brief romance with Lavender Brown. Dumbledore tasks Harry with obtaining a memory from Slughorn regarding a young Voldemort. After a series of dangerous encounters in Diagon Alley and a confrontation with Draco, Harry and Dumbledore travel to a cave to find a Horcrux. They discover that Voldemort has been seeking Horcruxes to achieve immortality. The film culminates in a tense confrontation at Hogwarts where Dumbledore is killed by Severus Snape, who reveals himself as the Half-Blood Prince. The trio realizes the locket they hold is a fake, and they vow to find the remaining Horcruxes.
- First release year
- 2009
- Runtime (minutes)
- 153
- Production countries
- United Kingdom; United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- David Yates
- Writers
- Steve Kloves · screenplay
- Cast and characters
- Daniel Radcliffe · Harry Potter; Rupert Grint · Ron Weasley; Emma Watson · Hermione Granger; Helena Bonham Carter · Bellatrix Lestrange; Jim Broadbent · Horace Slughorn; Robbie Coltrane · Rubeus Hagrid; Warwick Davis · Filius Flitwick; Michael Gambon · Albus Dumbledore; Alan Rickman · Severus Snape; Maggie Smith · Minerva McGonagall; Timothy Spall · Peter Pettigrew; David Thewlis · Remus Lupin
- Genres
- fantasy
- Themes
- Sacrifice; Identity; Danger
- Tone and mood
- dark; moody
- Premise and plot tags
- Fantasy; Adventure; Magic
- Source material / true-story basis
- Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J. K. Rowling
- Franchise connections
- Harry Potter
- Reception
- The film was widely acclaimed by critics for its visual effects, character development, and darker tone. It was a major box office success, becoming the second-highest-grossing film of 2009.
- Reported review scores
- Metacritic · score: 78 · scale: 100 · review count: 36; Broadcast Film Critics Association · score: 87
- Awards and nominations
- Academy Award · Best Cinematography · Nominated; BAFTA Award · Best Production Design · Nominated; BAFTA Award · Best Special Visual Effects · Nominated
- Production trivia
- It is one of the most expensive films ever made.; The film was the first in the series to receive a Critic's Choice certificate.; The soundtrack was the highest-charting among all the six movie soundtracks released.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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