Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2Movie Reviews

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Avg. Critic Score: 87 out of 100 Universal acclaim Metascore^® based on all critic reviews

Information for Parents:

OK for kids 12+

Read Common Sense Media review

Critic scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating more favorable reviews.

100

The Hollywood Reporter | Todd McCarthy
Fully justifying the decision, once thought purely mercenary, of splitting J.K. Rowling's final book into two parts, this is an exciting and, to put it mildly, massively eventful finale that will grip and greatly please anyone who has been at all a fan of the series up to now. Read full review
100

New York Post | Lou Lumenick
Everything a summer blockbuster should be but rarely is - a whip-smart, slam-bang piece of entertainment where we deeply care about the fate of the central characters. Read full review
91

Entertainment Weekly | Lisa Schwarzbaum
The thrilling conclusion to a phenomenal cinematic story 10 years in the telling, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2 is proof that authentic movie excitement is its own form of magic. Read full review
90

Time | Richard Corliss
It is indeed impressive; and we mean not just this solid, satisfying final film - in which the Potter saga reaches its climax, if not quite its emotional apex - but the entirety of producer David Heyman's blockbuster franchise. Read full review
90

The New York Times | Manohla Dargis
Childhood ends, this time forever, with tears and howls, swirls of smoke, the shock of mortality and bittersweet smiles in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2, the grave, deeply satisfying final movie in the series. Read full review
88

Chicago Sun-Times | Roger Ebert
This movie is impressively staged, the dialogue is given proper weight and not hurried through, there are surprises which, in hindsight, seem fair enough, and "Harry Potter" now possesses an end that befits the most profitable series in movie history. Read full review
88

ReelViews | James Berardinelli
Overall, Part 2 tells a more compelling and emotionally fulfilling tale than the one related in Part 1, although that could be a result of this movie having a conclusion - something its predecessor notably lacked. Read full review
88

USA Today | Claudia Puig
The ideal culmination of a fantasy series that has artfully blended excitement, adventure and terror with humor, kinship and love. Read full review
80

Los Angeles Times | Kenneth Turan
Part 2 turns out to be more than the last of its kind. Almost magically, it ends up being one of the best of the series as well. Read full review
80

Variety | Justin Chang
With its accelerated rhythm, relentless flow of incident and wizard-war endgame, "Part 2" will strike many viewers as a much more exciting, involving picture than the slower, more atmospheric "Part 1." Read full review

Metacritic link View more reviews for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 on Metacritic

Information for Parents

Common Sense Media says OK for kids 12+ Spectacularly epic, poignant end to a magical series.

What Parents Need to Know Parents need to know that the epic finale of the Harry Potter movie saga is the deadliest, most intense, and most touching installment of the lot. Because the majority of the movie is an all-out battle between Voldemort and his army against Harry and his allies at Hogwarts, there's an extremely high body count -- including the deaths of several beloved supporting characters. Most happen off camera, but several bodies are shown. In a few scenes, everyone is bloodied and injured or dead, and it's brutal to watch (a shot of dead goblins is particularly gruesome, and one character's death at the fangs of an evil snake gets pretty gory). Despite the raging battle, Ron and Hermione at last find a moment to snog and spend most of the movie holding on to each other; Harry and Ginny also share a quick kiss. And in the end, it's not the violence that viewers will take away, but the idea that every hero, no matter how brave, needs loyal friends to defeat evil and that love lives on even in the face of death. Note: For the first time, a Harry Potter movie is being shown in 3-D in some theaters, making some of the action sequences even more intense.

Families can talk about whether this final Harry Potter installment is age-appropriate for young kids, even if they've already read the books or are familiar with the characters. How does the tone and subject matter of the series change over time?
Which characters reveal different parts of themselves in this movie? Why did they make the choices they made? How do those decisions affect Harry?
How does the development of Ron and Hermione's relationship contrast to most other teen love stories? Is a slow-burning romance as believable or exciting to watch as love at first sight?
Did the final movie live up to your expectations? Are there any other book sagas you'd be as excited to see turned into movies, or do you think it's unlikely another franchise would hold as much magical appeal?

The good stuff

Positive messages: As with all of the Potter movies, there are many positive messages, including the idea that every hero needs help to defeat evil; that everyone has a choice to do what's right, even if it's not easy; that some battles are greater than one person; that friends stand by each other until the end; and so much more. Different characters' choices illustrate selflessness, unexpected conscience, finding the courage to express love, and that people aren't always what they seem. And the Forbidden Forest sequence demonstrates how those we love always live on in our hearts, even after they're dead.
Positive role models: Harry, Hermione, Ron, and all the member...Harry, Hermione, Ron, their Hogwarts friends, the Order of the Phoenix, and most of Hogwarts' professors are all positive role models -- they work together to fight Voldemort and his army. As the titular hero, Harry is willing to sacrifice his life to save the wizarding world, but so is everyone who fights on his side, including some characters who surprise us with their bravery. Dumbledore's spirit returns to remind us once more that it's the choices we make that make all the difference.

What to watch for

Violence: This is by far the deadliest of the eight Potter films, with the highest body count and many upsetting deaths. Because the movie depicts the Battle of Hogwarts, the death toll is in the hundreds, including some favorite supporting characters. Their bodies are shown (eyes open, unmoving). The Gringotts break-in not only destroys the bank but also sparks bloody retribution from Voldemort (dead goblins are shown sprawled out). The Killing Curse is used, an evil snake kills an important character in a pretty gory scene with multiple bites and body slams, and a bully is enveloped in fire. Some bodies seem to disintegrate or burst. Harry, Ron, Hermione, and their friends face Death Eaters, Dementors, giants, huge spiders -- the whole of You Know Who's army. In one ethereal scene, the remains of a body are depicted as a gruesome newborn-like creature. Harry willingly faces death at one point in the movie.
Sex: After seven movies, Ron and Hermione finally kiss -- as well as hold hands, embrace, and protect/comfort each other in a romantic manner. A married couple holds hands before a battle. Harry and Ginny share a brief kiss, and one character proclaims his intent to tell a girl he fancies her, since they might be dead in a few hours.
Language: Molly Weasley's famous line: "Not my daughter, you bitch!" is included verbatim, and a few characters (mostly Ron) say British slang like "bloody hell," "prat," and "numpty."
Consumerism: There's no product placement in the movie, but obviously Harry Potter-related merchandise is a huge money maker for Warner Bros. and J.K. Rowling.
Drinking, drugs and smoking: Not an issue

Common Sense Media An independent nonprofit dedicated to providing families the information they need to help kids thrive in a world of media and technology. © Common Sense Media Inc. 2010. All rights reserved.