Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire parents guide

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire Parent Guide

Overall B

During his fourth year at Hogwarts School, Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) is mysteriously chosen to participate in the dangerous Tri-wizard Tournament. But the competition turns into more than just a game when the evil Lord Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes) and his followers decide to play along.

Release date November 17, 2005

Violence C-
Sexual Content B+
Profanity B
Substance Use B

Why is Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire rated PG-13? The MPAA rated Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire PG-13 for sequences of fantasy violence and frightening images.

Run Time: 157 minutes

Parent Movie Review

The game is afoot before Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) even enters Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry for his fourth year, because the wicked forces of Lord Voldemort have not paused for a summer vacation. Instead they’ve haunted Harry’s dreams and even hosted a fiery demonstration at the Quidditch World Cup Championships. Yet if the fourteen-year-old boy hopes things will settle down once he is within the walls of the ancient learning academy, he is about to be disappointed.

The new school term brings an exciting opportunity for Hogwarts to participate in a Triwizard Tournament by selecting one student representative to face off against competitors from two other magical institutions. It is a dangerous sport and only the oldest pupils are allowed to put their names forward. So when the Goblet of Fire, the enchanted object given the task of choosing the winning contestants, pulls from its blue flame a piece of parchment on which is scribbled “Harry Potter,” there are suspicions of interference from evil sources. The only way to know for sure however is to let the novice wizard play along—and hope he can discover (or at least out maneuver) any secret strategy.

Those familiar with J.K. Rowling’s books will be well aware that her storylines are maturing with her characters. The film adaptation of this volume reflects the plot’s passage from childhood to young adult fare, which is appropriately marked by a PG-13 rating from the MPAA (Motion Picture association of America)—as opposed to the PG classification awarded to the first three movies. Parents with children who have grown up along with Harry, Ron (Rupert Grint) and Hermione (Emma Watson) may not be too alarmed by this increasing darkness. But those with little ones just recently introduced to the famous trio may find the tales are outpacing the comfort level of such budding fans.

The violence, which includes moments of peril throughout, depictions of injury and death, as well as the re-incarnation of you-know-who (Ralph Fiennes), will present the biggest content issues, although not the only ones. The movie also explores the boy-girl relationships of its adolescent cast. These portrayals are usually humorous (like the awkwardness of finding a date for the Yule Ball), and provide opportunities for some sexual innuendo (such as the sly comments made by a female ghost who interrupts Harry’s bath). The use of mild profanities appears to be part of the coming-of-age too.

None of this will surprise avid readers. Their chief concerns will be the impact of another new director (Mike Newell) and whether or not the screenwriter (Steve Kloves again) stays true to the original. These word-watchers should be happy to know that despite having to whittle down a 400-plus-page book into a two and a half hour script, their final adaptation looks as good as the pervious work done on this series. Nor will they be disappointed by the special effects which bring fire-breathing dragons, meddling mermaids, harassing hedges and cauldron concoctions frightfully to life. While the production is sometimes lacking in expressing the story’s more emotional elements, it captures most of the author’s magical imagination and should continue to charm Harry’s faithful following.

Starring Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson. Running time: 157 minutes. Theatrical release November 17, 2005. Updated

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Rating & Content Info

Why is Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire rated PG-13? Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire is rated PG-13 by the MPAA for sequences of fantasy violence and frightening images.

This installment of Harry Potter is the darkest to grace the screen to date. Depictions of violence abound including: the death of characters, villainous Death Eaters causing destruction with fire, images of snakes and skulls, moments of peril, death threats, mentions of torture, a character having his hand cut off, and a knife wound that draws blood. Sexual content centers on noticing the opposite gender, inappropriate hand placement during a dance, as well as some wistful comments by a female ghost about seeing a bathing boy without obscuring bubbles. Also, there are several uses of mild profanities and a main character that constantly drinks from a flask.

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Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire Parents' Guide

Harry tends to procrastinate preparing for the challenges he will face in the Triwizard contest. How does this affect his confidence? What sources does he turn to in order to compensate for his lack of plan? What do you learn from his example?

Why does Harry appear to have less of a spirit of competition than the other contestants? What kind of impact does that have on the other participants? What things matter most to you?

Home Video

The most recent home video release of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire movie is March 7, 2006. Here are some details…

On November 8, 2011, Warner Bother’s studio is releasing: Harry Potter: The Complete 8-Film Collection (also known as Harry Potter- Years 1-7)


Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire comes in a variety of incantations. Potter fans can take their pick of wide or full screen versions, 2-disc Deluxe Editions, or an anthology of the first four films. If you are feeling just a little wicked, the single disc version will only provide you with the movie. But if you can conjure up a few more dollars, the double DVD will offer a cauldron’s worth of extras. These include additional scenes, interviews with Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson, as well as conversations with the cast and crew. You can also sneak a peek at Harry vs. the Horntail, In Too Deep, The Maze, Meet the Champions, He Who Must Not Be Named, and Preparing for the Yule Ball. Aspiring wizards can have a go at the Triwizard Tournament Challenges, Tournament and Voldemort features. Other DVD-ROM extras to check out are the EA Game Demo, Magical Trading Cards, Hogwarts Timeline, and web interactivity. Audio tracks are available in English (Dolby Digital 5.1) and Spanish (Dolby Digital 5.1), with subtitles in English, Spanish and French.

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