5 Book-to-Movie Changes in Harry Potter Even Voldemort Wouldn't Approve Of
For as long as they have been making films based on books, the notion of artistic license has been a constant presence.
Producers and writers are taking the source material and making changes as they see fit. Whether to make the content more appealing for a movie screen in the hope of reaching a wider audience, or simply because they did not like something in the original book.
Fans usually have mixed reactions to this idea. Some embrace the changes, able to see the filmmakers' point of view, and agree some alterations were needed. Some are viciously against even the smallest changes to their beloved original books. Most tend to sit between these two extremes.
Potterheads are no exception.
The books were already immensely popular with something of a cult following of all ages before they became films. No doubt nerves were felt at the thought of making changes, knowing some fans would rabidly resist.
But the Wizarding World has proven itself susceptible to the same kind of shifts we have seen time and again when books become films. Some changes were subtle, some glaring. And some were just downright strange. Here are five of the weirdest changes the Harry Potter movies made from the books.
One: Where Did All the House-Elves Go?
Fans loved Dobby, loathed Kreacher, and all asked the same question. Where are the rest of the house-elves? The books established them as prominent characters, indeed being the hard-working chefs and cleaners of Hogwarts. The books even had the kids creating an organisation, aptly named S.P.E.W to fight for house-elf rights. But the movies only showed two elves, and very little of them at that.
Two: Burning Down the Burrow
This one is universally hated by Potterheads and with good reason. The Burrow, the Weasley's beloved home, did not need to be destroyed. Movie fans already hated Voldemort and his Death Eaters by this point, so having them destroy what had become such an iconic symbol of warmth and love was pointless and cruel. And what's most frustrating, this moment had zero effect on the story.
Three: No Hogwart's Quidditch Cup?
(3)_15280.webp)
One of the most endearing things about the Harry Potter universe is the sport, Quidditch. The books went into enormous detail here, building tension toward the epic Hogwart's Cup which is won by one of the four houses each year.
But in the films, there is not a single Quidditch final game played. Despite the anticipation of Harry's nemesis, Draco Malfoy joining the Slytherin team in the second film.
Fans feel the films started the Quidditch tension of the books, but just abandoned it in favour of other plot points.
Four: Missing Characters
It is not just the other house-elves that are absent from the films. The following have massive roles in the books and do not appear anywhere in the movies. Some are briefly mentioned by name, so do exist, others, have vanished entirely. Charlie Weasley is never seen, along with Peeves, Ludo Bagman, Bertha Jorkins, Cuthbert Binns, Andromeda Tonks, Ted Tonks, Hestia Jones, Phineas Black, Marlene McKinnon, and Marietta Edgecombe.
Five: Voldemort Loses His Backstory
This is perhaps the most odd change of them all. The books go into a huge amount of detail on how Tom Riddle became the worst of the worst, the what, why, where, and how. But the films almost completely ignore it. Potterheads have noticed that the films barely scratch the surface of the series' main antagonist and have voiced their frustration for years.