10 Unforgivable Movie Mistakes HBO’s Harry Potter Remake Can Finally Fix

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The Harry Potter films have delighted audiences for over two decades, bringing J.K. Rowling’s wizarding world to the screen. However, even dedicated fans recognize that the movies didn’t include everything from the books. Important characters and plot points were left out or simplified during the adaptation process. The new Harry Potter series coming to HBO has a chance to be a more faithful retelling, if it avoids repeating those past errors.

As a huge Harry Potter fan, I always felt the movies, while enjoyable, were a little… rushed. They had to cut so much from the books, and it sometimes really changed why characters did things, or just completely left out important scenes. Things like Hermione’s fight for house-elf rights, Ron dealing with his insecurities, and even understanding the full story behind the Marauder’s Map all felt shortchanged. That’s why I’m so excited about the HBO series – it feels like they finally have the time to fill in those gaps and give us the story we deserved. Here’s a breakdown of what the movies missed and how the new series is getting it right.

10. Hermione’s Advocacy for House-Elves Through S.P.E.W. Was Completely Ignored in the Movies

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The movies made a significant mistake by leaving out Hermione’s work to help magical creatures who were treated unfairly, like house-elves. Her organization, S.P.E.W. (the Society for the Promotion of Elfish Welfare), is a crucial part of her growth as a character. For example, in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, she met a house-elf named Winky and was deeply disturbed by how badly she was being treated.

Hermione’s strong belief in house-elf rights led her to a career with the Ministry of Magic, working to regulate magical creatures. Showing this important part of her character in the TV series would demonstrate HBO’s commitment to staying true to the original Harry Potter books.

9. The Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire Movie Trimmed & Omitted Key Storylines From the Book

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The movie version of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire left out a lot of the story surrounding the Quidditch World Cup. Many movie viewers aren’t familiar with characters like Ludo Bagman, who played a key role in the book as a judge for the Triwizard Tournament. Similarly, the house-elf Winky was completely absent from the films. The movies also never explained how Voldemort initially regained a physical form, leaving a significant plot point unanswered.

As a huge fan of the books, I always got the impression that Voldemort’s weakened state in Goblet of Fire wasn’t just a natural progression from when he lost his body. The books strongly suggest a connection to Bertha Jorkins, a Ministry employee betrayed by Pettigrew. But the films really gloss over that, making it seem like Voldemort has always been that fragile, helpless creature since the end of Sorcerer’s Stone. Honestly, I think the full story is probably much darker, and I’m really hoping the new HBO series will finally explain how he ended up in such a vulnerable position – it feels like a crucial piece of the puzzle the movies skipped over.

8. The Harry Potter Movies Glossed Over the Significance of Priori Incantatem in the Graveyard Duel

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The showdown between Harry and Voldemort in the graveyard at the end of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire is one of the most memorable scenes in the series. Harry is bruised and covered in dirt after barely surviving the dangerous third task of the Triwizard Tournament – a huge, complex maze. Voldemort, recently returned to power, is dressed in pristine black robes and determined to finally finish the job he began years earlier on Halloween. When Voldemort tries to kill Harry with the Killing Curse, Harry instinctively tries to disarm him. Their wands meet, creating a burst of light, and ghostly images of Voldemort’s previous spells appear.

The magical connection between Harry Potter and Lord Voldemort’s wands is called Priori Incantatem. It happens when two wands are made with cores from the same source – in their case, feathers from the same phoenix, Fawkes, who belonged to Dumbledore. In the movies, when Harry tells Dumbledore about this connection, Dumbledore simply replies, “Priori Incantatem,” without much explanation. This is because the films often skipped detailed explanations to focus more on action. The new Harry Potter TV series has the opportunity to explore these important details that were left out of the movies.

7. Missing Side Characters Like Peeves and Winky Took Away Depth From the Story

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The Harry Potter films left out many characters from the books, and that was a mistake. Peeves, the mischievous poltergeist at Hogwarts, brought a unique energy to the school that the other ghosts didn’t have. He was a fun nuisance for students and constantly pranked Argus Filch, the caretaker. It was especially great to see him openly defy Dolores Umbridge in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. If the new Harry Potter TV series doesn’t include Peeves, it will miss a chance to add a lot of depth and fun to the story.

As we’ve seen, Winky the house-elf played a crucial role in shaping Hermione’s character. Her existence gave a solid basis for Hermione’s dedication to fighting for the rights of house-elves and other mistreated magical creatures. Without Winky, the reasons behind Hermione’s passion aren’t as clear. Therefore, the new Harry Potter TV series needs to include Winky to make Hermione’s character development believable.

6. Dumbledore Yelling at Harry For Putting His Name in the Goblet of Fire Was Completely Out of Character

In Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Harry is shocked when his name is unexpectedly drawn as a second champion in the Triwizard Tournament. The movie shows Dumbledore confronting Harry, grabbing his shoulders as a frightened Harry tries to pull away, realizing the danger of competing in such a perilous event.

The scene quickly became well-known – and not in a good way – when it was first shown to audiences. The original book describes Dumbledore speaking calmly, but the movie version shows him exploding in anger, which many fans found inaccurate and frustrating. Twenty years later, the scene is still widely mocked and has become a popular meme.

5. Harry and Ginny’s Romance Was Underdeveloped and Unfaithful to the Books

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A lot of fans dislike the romance between Harry and Ginny in the Harry Potter films. Their interactions often felt forced and awkward, like the scenes of Ginny doing small, overly-domestic things for Harry. These moments felt strange in a story about good versus evil. Ultimately, the movies didn’t give Ginny enough character development, which is likely why their relationship didn’t resonate with many viewers.

Ginny Weasley is portrayed as a strong, spirited, and talented witch in the books, famous for spells like the Bat-Bogey Hex. She’s much more than just a sister or Harry’s girlfriend. However, the show’s depiction of their romance doesn’t quite work because Harry is the one who grows and changes, while Ginny feels underdeveloped and simply present. For their relationship to feel believable in the Harry Potter TV series, Ginny’s character needs more focus and development.

4. Ron Was Flattened into Comic Relief Instead of Showing Emotional Depth

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Fans of Harry Potter fanfiction, particularly those who ship Dramione, often criticize Ron Weasley. But Ron actually has a lot of good qualities – they just don’t come across in the films. The movies tend to make him the comic relief, showing him as somewhat clumsy and not very bright, simply there to help Harry. This portrayal overlooks the fact that in the books, Ron is a much more emotionally complex and mature character.

Ron often feels insecure because he’s the youngest in a family of accomplished wizards. Being friends with the famous Harry Potter actually makes these feelings worse. The movies don’t really show how deeply Ron struggles with self-doubt, so when he finally gains confidence, it doesn’t feel fully deserved – it can even be frustrating to watch. The new Harry Potter TV series has a chance to explore Ron’s inner life more thoroughly and create a more believable and relatable character, staying true to how he’s portrayed in the books.

3. The Marauder’s Map Origins Were Never Fully Explained in the Harry Potter Movies

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In Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Fred and George Weasley give Harry a magical map of Hogwarts because he isn’t allowed to visit the wizarding village of Hogsmeade. Harry is thrilled with the map, as it reveals secret passages and routes to the village. It also shows the location of anyone inside the castle or on the grounds at any given time. This map, known as the Marauders’ Map, ultimately helps uncover a secret Peter Pettigrew had been hiding for twelve years.

The Marauders – known by nicknames like Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs – are mentioned throughout the films, but it’s never directly stated who they are. Viewers are meant to figure out that James Potter (Harry’s father) was Prongs, Sirius Black (Harry’s godfather) was Padfoot, Remus Lupin (Harry’s teacher) was Moony, and Peter Pettigrew was Wormtail. While their nicknames are spoken, the connection to these characters is only implied, not explicitly explained.

The Marauders were incredibly talented wizards – creating that map and becoming Animagi (people who can transform into animals) while still young. The movies don’t fully explore their story or how important they are. For decades, fans have wanted a prequel focusing on the Marauders, and this new HBO series has a chance to give them the detailed backstory they’ve been waiting for.

2. Dumbledore’s Puppetmaster Role Needs to Be More Overt in the HBO Series

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Throughout the Harry Potter series, Dumbledore was constantly manipulating events from behind the scenes, but the movies don’t fully show how much control he exerted. The new Harry Potter TV show has a great opportunity to demonstrate this, revealing how he skillfully guided everyone while keeping crucial information from the children he tasked with saving the world. He essentially put the world’s fate in their hands without being upfront with them.

At least in the Harry Potter books, Dumbledore has a meaningful conversation with Harry at King’s Cross after Harry temporarily dies protecting himself from Voldemort. This important exchange doesn’t happen in the movies, which instead offer vague and indirect advice from Dumbledore, leaving the full story untold.

1. Harry and Hermione’s Dance Scene in Deathly Hallows Part 1 Misrepresents Their Relationship

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During the difficult Horcrux hunt in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Harry, Ron, and Hermione face low spirits. After reaching his limit, Ron briefly leaves Harry and Hermione, though he later returns and destroys a Horcrux. While he’s gone, Harry and Hermione are left to face things on their own. One night near Christmas, they’re sheltering in a tent. Hermione is absorbed in rereading The Tales of Beedle the Bard, and Harry, watching her, invites her to dance. They share a moment of connection, dancing and laughing to Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds’ “O Children.” As the song ends, their smiles disappear, and they’re left alone together again, facing the weight of their task.

Many book readers dislike the dance scene because it suggests a romantic connection between Harry and Hermione, which isn’t present in the original story. Since this scene wasn’t in the books, some feel it doesn’t fit. The TV show could address this issue by either removing the scene altogether or by emphasizing the strong, platonic friendship between Harry and Hermione.

There’s nothing romantic happening in this scene. It’s simply a moment of deep understanding: Harry recognizes how much Hermione is hurting, dealing with both Ron leaving and the weight of her past. She’s struggling with having erased her parents’ memories and doesn’t understand why Dumbledore left her a seemingly simple gift. Harry offering to dance isn’t about romance; he’s trying to give her a small bit of happiness during a very difficult time.

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2026-01-30 03:37