Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009)
★★ — Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009)
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009) is the sixth entry in Warner Bros.' enormously profitable adaptation of J.K. Rowling's bestselling series, based on her 2005 novel of the same name. David Yates, who had taken over the franchise with Order of the Phoenix two years earlier, was by this point firmly established as the series' permanent director, going on to helm every subsequent entry including the two-part Deathly Hallows finale. With a reported budget of $250 million, it ranks among the most expensive productions in British cinema history, and its near-$934 million worldwide gross confirmed the franchise's commercial invincibility heading into its final stretch. Filmed largely at Leavesden Studios in Hertfordshire, with location work across England and Scotland, the production leaned into an intentionally darker visual palette that reflected the increasingly sombre tone of Rowling's later books.
Of all the films in the series, this might be the dullest. The story (Harry helping Dumbledore uncover memories about Voldemort’s past) has potential, but it’s buried under a film that feels more like a series of gloomy vignettes than a proper narrative. There’s little momentum, few real stakes, and long stretches where it feels like nothing is happening at all. Even the big moments, like the final showdown on the cliff, come and go without much impact. The biggest problem is it's almost impossible to see what’s on screen. The cinematography is a mess, deliberately dark, yes, but to the point of being ridiculous. Whole scenes are shrouded in shadow, lit only by faint candlelight or murky ambient glow, as if the film was shot through a black bin bag. It’s not moody; it’s just poorly lit. You can forgive a film for being slow, but not when it’s also a chore to watch. The romance between Harry, Ginny, Ron and Hermione is awkwardly handled and adds nothing but filler. Meanwhile, the title character (the mysterious Half-Blood Prince) turns out to be someone so ill-fitting that when the reveal comes, it feels less like a twist and more like a betrayal. Alan Rickman gives his usual weight to the role, but even he can’t save the flat ending. Ambitious in tone, perhaps, but a misfire in execution. Barely keeps the series alive before the finale.
Rating: ★★ | Year: 2009 | Watched: 2025-07-27
Where to watch (UK)
Stream: HBO Max Amazon Channel
Rent: Apple TV Store · Rakuten TV · Amazon Video · Google Play Movies
Buy: Apple TV Store · Rakuten TV · Amazon Video · Google Play Movies
Physical: Amazon UK
Affiliate disclosure: Movies With Macca may earn a small commission on purchases or subscriptions started via these links. It costs you nothing extra.
Related on Movies With Macca
More from David Yates: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (2011) · Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (2010) · Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007)
More with Daniel Radcliffe: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (2011) · Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004) · Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (2010) · Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007)
More from United Kingdom: Lessons of Darkness (1992) · Shinjuku Boys (1995) · The Curse of Frankenstein (1957) · Blue (1993)
More from the 2000s: Kirikou and the Wild Beasts (2005) · Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004) · Daredevil (2003) · Apocalypto (2006)
More adventure: Alice in Wonderland (1951) · The Eagle (1925) · Louisiana Story (1948) · The General (1926)
More fantasy: Viy (1967) · Alice in Wonderland (1951) · Mononoke the Movie: The Phantom in the Rain (2024) · Mononoke the Movie: Chapter II - The Ashes of Rage (2025)
