Are the Harry Potter Movies Becoming Too Dark for Kids?

Besides being a Harry Potter fanatic, I'm also a mother. From my experience and understanding of the story, I think the movies are great for older kids, around ages 9 and up. Even the upcoming Deathly Hallows should be exciting, not too dark for that age group. Here are some things to keep in mind.

Harry Potter Grows Up
I feel sometimes people forget that the story of Harry Potter has been in print since 1997. The story of Harry changes and matures with him. With the release of each movie, it's obvious that Harry, Ron, and Hermione aren't little kids anymore Every movie represents one year. Harry was 11 when his story started, at its end he's 17. Every year, Harry faces increasingly difficult struggles as Lord Voldemort gains in strength. Every year, Harry has to deal with more "adult" problems, even if they're as mundane as dating. Audiences who have watched Harry Potter movies must realize this.

The books and movies wouldn't be as popular as they are if one movie was simply a re-hashing of the previous one. From Goblet of Fire and on, the books and movies aren't geared towards smaller children. For the upcoming Deathly Hallows Part 1 movie, Harry is now a young man deeply involved in a Wizarding war. That's one of the greatest things about Harry Potter, he's not a static character stuck forever in childhood.

The themes of the Harry Potter movies
While there are parts of the movies that may be too intense for small children, remember what the themes of the movies are. Love, friendship, and doing what's right are the overall themes of the stories. These are not dark themes, but positive enforcements. They are classic good vs evil stories.

The movies are only dark because of the villains. Harry has the most powerful Dark Arts wizard, Voldemort, trying to kill him. Fighting that evil, sacrificing for its defeat can get violent and heartbreaking. But, Harry struggles on to save his friends and the Wizarding World. While the newer movies might have lost the wide eyed "Yer a wizard, Harry" innocence of the earlier ones, the themes remain the same. The books and movies have a way of re-enforcing the positive, even when all hope seems lost. I think that's a wonderful message for children.

If there is doubt that the movies are too dark for your child, know exactly what is in them. Watch the movies before your child sees it or read the books. By understanding the story, it's easy to decide if it's appropriate. Remember in the last two books (three movies) there is a war going on and Harry plays an integral part in that war. The sunny, childhood wonder of the early movies maybe gone, but the wonderful messages of love and friendship conquering evil still remain.

Sources:

Personal Experience