19 critical realizations from rewatching the Harry Potter movies in 2025

The Harry Potter movies have been a part of a huge generation that grew up with it. The eight movies are loved by millions of fans; however, with the first few movies being released over two decades ago and with the rise of the internet, which helped fans get access to discussions and a platform to explore more, the viewers have come across quite a few interesting realizations. So in this list, we will talk about 19 critical realizations the audience gathered from rewatching the Harry Potter movies in 2025.

1) Cho Chang's guilt and relationship with Harry

This is one of the most controversial topics among viewers while rewatching the Harry Potter movies. Cho Chang and Harry’s relationship in the books is more nuanced than has been shown in the Harry Potter movies. Cho has been struggling with guilt after Cedric’s death and is unable to discuss her feelings with Harry. She also had jealousy towards Hermione, which strained her connection with Harry even further. Her inability to navigate with her emotions led to their relationship ending.

2) Ron and Hermione’s poor chemistry

Ron and Hermione’s relationship lacked on-screen compatibility and felt extremely uninteresting and insignificant, according to the viewers of the movies who have also read the books. Ron’s behavior throughout the movie is insensitive toward Hermione and even outright cruel. His mockery of her pronunciation and ruining her first ball highlighted their onscreen relationship as being more sibling-like than romantic.

3) Missing several details from the book

Adapting books into films is a difficult task, and it is understandable that movies will not be able to fit all the details from the book because of limited runtime. However, significant details were cut from the books, such as the characters of Peeves the Poltergeist and Winky the house elf, the S.P.E.W. campaign, and many scenes of the Dursleys. It was surprising for the readers to miss out on so many significant plotlines that could have been explored easily.

4) Makes us feel old and nostalgic

The movies were released over 20 years ago and have been a huge part of some people’s childhoods. Many Potterheads grew up alongside their characters in the movies. It feels nostalgic to rewatch; however, at the same time, it makes the viewers feel old considering how much time has passed. It mostly evokes a powerful sense of nostalgia, triggering the realization of times that have gone.

5) J.K. Rowling has no plans to carry on with Harry's story

The author, J.K. Rowling, has said that she does not wish to continue with Harry Potter’s story as she is already satisfied with the way the story has concluded. As the storyline and ending are already known, the viewers have shown disappointment with this. Despite not wanting to continue her later prequels, which were made into movies, they lacked the charm of the original series and were disappointing according to the viewers.

6) The Marauders plotline was absent

The movies have failed to elaborate on the topic of the Marauders even when it is a key aspect of the series. Though the movies have hinted at the bond of friendship among them, they have failed to capture the profound connection between James, Remus, Sirius, and Peter. James has been portrayed as arrogant, overshadowing his bravery and loyalty. Peter’s betrayal has been portrayed more as a plot device.

7) Hedwig's death is shown as insignificant

Hedwig was a crucial part of Harry’s life. She was more than just a pet for Harry. However, the movie downplayed the emotional impact her death had on Harry. Her death had a devastating blow on Harry, who mourned for her loss way more than has been shown in the movies. In the movies, her death has not been properly acknowledged and has been treated as a quick tragic moment that did not resonate with the viewers.

8) The final book was split into two films

The decision to divide the last book of Harry Potter into two movies has had mixed reactions from the viewers. Some fans appreciated the opportunity to see more of the story brought to life on screen, while others felt that it was a ploy to generate more money. However, even when the movie makers had the chance to elaborate the content of the book properly in two movies, fans argued that the outcome was unfavorable and lacked the narrative flow that was required.

9) Dated CGI

Though the CGI in the movies has been groundbreaking for their time, comparing it to 2025’s CGI and the development that has occurred in the sophisticated visual effects, it feels dated. The spells and the creatures shown in the movies appear less realistic and more cartoonish, according to the viewers. This can be seen in cases where CGI is heavily used, such as with trolls and magical creatures or witches flying on broomsticks.

10) Casting of the actors

Though the casting of the main characters has been considered successful, several fans have argued about the disparity between the books. The casting is not just about the eye color or the hair texture but more about capturing the essence of the character’s personality, quirks, and inner struggle. In particular, most viewers believe this failed for characters like Ginny, Gilderoy Lockhart, and even Gambon's Dumbledore.

11) Lagging behind more recent fantasy films

The first few movies were released over 20 years ago and, with the passage of time, have become less relevant among new movie watchers. The rise of other fantasy worlds that have expanded the world of fantasy has captivated the viewers with their newer perspectives. However, the fandom has actively engaged with the series, although it seems to be dwindling with each passing year.

12) Poor cultural representation

The world has evolved a lot in the past two decades; hence, some of the things in the movies that seemed harmless back in the day have become controversial now. The portrayal of the goblins in the Harry Potter movies has been controversial in recent times because of their appearance and caricatures. Cultural awareness has evolved, demanding thoughtful and respectful discussions and learning from diverse perspectives, even in movies, as they have a significant impact.

13) Voldemort’s death is weird

The scene of Voldemort’s death, though visually stunning, has been debated by the viewers because of how elaborately it has been portrayed in the movie. It is a dramatic portrayal, making him seem supernatural even in death, which reinforces the idea of him not being a regular wizard. The death in the book has been shown in a regular way, making him just a man, which was crucial, which the movies could not capture.

14) Lack of character development

The lack of character development in the movies has been criticized by the viewers even now. It takes away from the depth of the characters and makes them unimpressive. For instance, Ron’s portrayal in the movies, where his importance has been dismissed and his multifacetedness does not resonate with the newer viewers of the movies. This also applies to a strong character like Ginny, who ultimately had little on-screen influence.

15) Too many plot holes

With more and more media literacy, the viewers are able to scrutinize the movies even more. The plot holes in the movies are noticeable, and with online scrutiny, the fans now are able to analyze the movies and understand the plot holes that have become glaring and hard to ignore. The existence of the time turner has been conveniently forgotten throughout the rest of the movies after appearing once, which the viewers have noted could have been used in multiple other cases.

16) Abrupt tone shifts

The sudden narrative changes in the movies have been pointed out by the viewers in recent times. Especially from the first three movies, which are filled with a sense of wonder and discovery, there is a stark distinction from the later movies, which are more and more darker. Though the tonal shifts were necessary for the plotlines, it has been dissected by the viewers in recent times.

17) Glossing over important details

The movies have glossed over important details that have been more and more noticeable in recent times. The wizarding world-building has seemed less detailed and has left viewers with unanswered questions. The movie’s omission of St. Mungo’s hospital after only providing a brief glimpse has been noted by the viewers for its lack of exploration.

18) Writing off characters

The movies have often introduced characters but then dropped them midway, leaving the audience confused. With rewatches, it becomes more and more noticeable. For example, many have pointed out that although playing a major role in the film, Lavender Brown and Ron's relationship is abruptly cut off without a suitable resolution to their relationship's outcome. Lavendar is cast aside without much thought after that.

19) The movies miss the magic of the book

Though the movies have done a commendable job in creating a visual depiction of the magical world of the wizards, they fail to capture the immersive experience that the books can provide even now. The visuals in the movies are limited, while the books rely on the imagination of the readers. The unique connection established through reading is hard to attain through the movies that were released so long ago, according to the viewers.