Are the Harry Potter Movies Too Dark for Children?

The Harry Potter movies start out fairly mild and get progressively darker as the story continues. As a mom and a fan of both the Harry Potter books and movies I was unsure of when to let my kids finally watch the Harry Potter movies for fear that they were too dark. I introduced the movies slowly and both my kids, ages 6 & 7, have finally seen the first six Harry Potter movies. You need to evaluate each movie individually and I have given you a breakdown of the darker parts of each movie. The movies are classic good vs. evil, it just happens in a magical world.

Evaluate if Your Children are Ready for Harry Potter

You need to know your kids. Do your kids realize the difference between movies and reality? Do they know that magic isn't real? If both these answers are both yes then you need to ask yourself a few more questions: Do my kids get easily scared? How much do my kids understand about good vs. evil?

There are some scary scenes in the Harry Potter movies and some of the movies are darker than others. If you have any doubts about whether or not the Harry Potter movies are too dark for your children then watch the movie first before you decide to let your kids watch it. I saw all the movies several times before I let my kids watch them. I have also read the books and know what my kids can handle and what they can't.

Is Harry Potter and The Sorcerer's Stone Too Dark for Children?
Rated: PG

This movie is the least dark of the Harry Potter films. I let my kids watch this one first. There are two scary scenes in the movie. The first one is in the dark forest where Harry meets a ghostlike Voldemort feeding on unicorn blood. The second scene is the final battle between Harry and Professor Quirrell/Voldemort.

Is Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets Too Dark for Children?
Rated: PG

The second book and movie in the Harry Potter series is slightly darker than the first. The story revolves around a diary that is controlled by Tom Riddle's (aka Voldemort) soul and how it will draw in any person who writes in it. The scary scenes include one in the dark forest with a giant spider named Aragog who gives her "children" permission to eat Harry and Ron.

The other scary scene is in the chamber of secrets where Harry fights a giant basilisk then destroys Tom Riddle's soul by destroying the diary.

Is Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkaban Too Dark for Children?
Rated: PG

The Harry Potter books and movies revolve around Harry preventing Voldemort from coming back into power which results in fights and both trying to destroy each other. In the Prisoner of Azkaban the story is about Sirius Black who escapes from prison and is presumably coming after Harry Potter to kill him.

This movie includes a werewolf and flying, hooded creatures called dementors. The dementors are scary because their job is to suck the soul out of anyone who defies them. They are an integral part of the story because they are at Hogwarts to prevent Sirius Black for getting in. However, the lesson in the story is far greater than the darker parts: Don't always believe what you are told and that people aren't always what they appear to be.

Is Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire Too Dark for Children?
Rated: PG-13

The Goblet of Fire is the darkest of the Harry Potter movies that have been released. There is some killing in this story and many parts that may be too scary for children. There is a scene in the black lake where merpeople attack that is scary. Then Viktor Krum gets possessed in a maze that can come to life and engulf the contestants.

The scariest scene is in the graveyard, and I still will not let my kids see the scene. In the graveyard, Voldemort gets reunited with a body by accepting body parts and blood from others. It is great for adults but is very scary and creepy.

Is Harry Potter and The Order of The Phoenix Too Dark for Children?
Rated: PG-13

This is the movie where Harry and his friends at Hogwarts decide to fight back against both the death eaters and the ministry of magic. They secretly form an organization to defend themselves against the dark magic that Voldemort is controlling.

Harry has visions of Voldemort and some of those are a bit scary. The final battle is spectacular but Voldemort does enter Harry's body and they have a battle in his mind which may also be frightening, but this movie is classic good vs. evil and good always wins.

Is Harry Potter and The Half-Blood Prince Too Dark for Children?
Rated: PG

I will say that the book is darker than the movie on this one. The book explains a lot more about the resurrection stone and horcruxes than the movie does but the movie does still have some scary parts including the death of Professor Dumbledore.

The scariest scene is in the cave where Harry and Dumbledore try to get a horcrux. Dumbledore drinks a potion that makes him tortured, then when they try to leave, a sea of dead people attempts to stop them.

Will Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows be Too Dark for Children?
Not Yet Rated

This remains to be seen. I am currently reading the final book to my two children. The book's final battle is vicious and several characters who Harry Potter fans have come to love die. But overall the story reveals all the secrets and love that wins out over dark magic. I will watch the final two movies before I let my kids watch them but since they understand that the magical world is not real and good always wins I'm sure that they should be able to handle the scarier scenes. For more information on Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows and the release dates of the movies you can click here.

Someone dies in each Harry Potter movie. Sometimes it is a good person and sometimes it is a bad one. There are battle scenes that are spectacular and scary at the same time. If there is any doubt in your mind that your kids won't be able to handle the Harry Potter movies then don't let them see them.