Actor Robbie Coltrane (1950)

Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts (2022) is a television special, released on HBO Max on New Year’s Day, celebrating the first installment of the beloved film series. Produced by Warner Bros. Unscripted Television and executive produced by Casey Patterson, this reunion honors the late cast members, including Helen McCrory, Alan Rickman, John Hurt, Richard Griffiths, and

Pixar Animation Studios produced Brave (2012), an American animated fantasy film distributed by Walt Disney Pictures. Set in Medieval Scotland, the story follows a young Princess Merida of clan Dunbroch on her birthday. As a gift, her father King Fergus gives her a bow and arrow, much to the dismay of Queen Elinor. While retrieving an arrow in the forest, Merida comes across a will-o’-the-wisp before being attacked by Mor’du, a massive demon bear. Escaping on horseback with Elinor, they leave Fergus and his men to defend against Mor’du, resulting in the loss of one of Fergus’s legs. A decade later, Merida learns she is to be betrothed to the ...

In the fantasy film, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (2011), directed by David Yates from a screenplay by Steve Kloves, our hero must seek help from the goblin Griphook after burying Dobby. With Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger by his side, Harry suspects a Horcrux is hidden in Bellatrix Lestrange’s vault at Gringotts bank. Griphook agrees to assist them, on the condition that he receives the Sword of Gryffindor in return. Ollivander informs Harry that two wands previously belonging to Bellatrix and Draco Malfoy were taken from Malfoy Manor; sensing a ...

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (2010) is a fantasy film directed by David Yates and written by Steve Kloves. Based on J. K. Rowling’s novel of the same name, it is the first of two cinematic installments. At Malfoy Manor, Severus Snape meets with Lord Voldemort and his followers to report that Harry Potter will be moved to a safe location by the Order of the Phoenix. Voldemort takes Lucius Malfoy’s wand since his own is powerless against Harry’s, as they both share a phoenix feather core. ...

The fantasy film, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009), was directed by David Yates and written by Steve Kloves based on J. K. Rowling’s novel of the same name. Lord Voldemort continues to tighten his grip on both the wizarding and Muggle worlds in the film: his Death Eaters abduct Mr Ollivander and cause destruction to London’s Millennium Bridge. As Lucius Malfoy remains imprisoned in Azkaban, Voldemort assigns his son, Draco Malfoy, with a secret mission at Hogwarts. To ensure Draco’s safety, ...

The American caper comedy-drama film, The Brothers Bloom (2008), written and directed by Rian Johnson, set in America. Orphaned as children, the brothers spent their youth moving between foster homes. When they were thirteen, Stephen came up with an elaborate plan to help Bloom overcome his shyness and talk to a girl; it also happened to be their first con job. As adults, the brothers are successful con men and are joined by their accomplice and explosives expert, Bang Bang, for a celebration in Berlin after completing a job. However, Bloom begins to yearn for a life beyond Stephen’s schemes and eventually goes ...

The fantasy film, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007), was directed by David Yates and written by Michael Goldenberg. It was based on the 2003 novel of the same name by J. K. Rowling. While staying at the Dursleys’, Harry Potter is attacked by Dementors alongside his cousin, Dudley. With the use of a Patronus spell, Harry repels them successfully. However, this results in him being detected by the Ministry of Magic for underage magic use, leading to his temporary expulsion from Hogwarts. Luckily, he is ...

The fantasy film, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005), directed by Mike Newell from a screenplay by Steve Kloves, is based on the 2000 novel of the same name by J.K. Rowling. In the film, Harry has a nightmare in which a Muggle caretaker is murdered for overhearing a plot involving Lord Voldemort, Peter Pettigrew, and an unidentified man. The next day, Harry joins the Weasleys, Hermione Granger, Cedric Diggory, and his father Amos at the Quidditch World Cup. However, their evening is disrupted when Death Eaters ...

In the action horror film Van Helsing (2004), written and directed by Stephen Sommers, we are taken to 1887 Transylvania. There, Doctor Victor Frankenstein works with his assistant Igor and Count Dracula in creating a monster. However, when Frankenstein refuses to follow Dracula’s plans for the creature, he is killed by the vampire. Meanwhile, Igor stands by and watches without emotion. As a mob approaches the castle, the monster escapes to a windmill with Frankenstein’s body. The windmill is set on fire by the angry mob, seemingly killing the monster. One year later, Gabriel Van Helsing, a renowned monster ...

The fantasy film, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004), was directed by Alfonso Cuarón, with a screenplay by Steve Kloves. It is based on the 1999 novel of the same name written by J.K. Rowling. Once again, Harry Potter endures a disappointing summer with his relatives, the Dursleys. However, things take a turn for the worse on his thirteenth birthday when Vernon’s sister Marge insults Harry’s parents in a cruel manner. Enraged, Harry causes her to inflate and float away. Believing he will be punished ...

The fantasy film, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002), was directed by Chris Columbus and written by Steve Kloves, adapting J.K. Rowling’s novel of the same name from 1998. While spending the summer with the Dursleys, Harry Potter meets Dobby, a house-elf who warns him not to return to Hogwarts as danger is looming. Despite Dobby’s warning, Harry refuses to stay away and ends up getting locked up by his relatives. Luckily, Ron Weasley and his brothers Fred and George come to his rescue in their ...

Based on the graphic novel of the same name by Alan Moore and Eddie Campbell, From Hell (2001) is a period detective horror film directed by the Hughes Brothers and written by Terry Hayes and Rafael Yglesias. Set in 1888, it follows Mary Kelly and her fellow London prostitutes as they navigate their harsh daily existence. Ann Crook, a former prostitute now married to painter Albert, has recently given birth to a daughter named ...

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (2001) is a magical film helmed by director Chris Columbus and produced by David Heyman. The screenplay, written by Steve Kloves, is based on J.K. Rowling’s popular novel from 1997. Late one evening, professors Albus Dumbledore and Minerva McGonagall, along with Hogwarts groundskeeper Rubeus Hagrid, bring an orphaned infant wizard named Harry Potter to his Muggle aunt and uncle, Petunia and Vernon Dursley – his only ...

Message in a Bottle (1999), a romantic drama directed by Luis Mandoki, is based on Nicholas Sparks’s novel of the same title. Theresa Osborne, a former reporter for the Chicago Tribune, discovers a compelling love letter in a bottle while vacationing in Cape Cod. Entranced by its contents, she shares it with her coworkers and without her knowledge, they publish the letter in their newspaper. The response is overwhelming and among the many letters received is one with an attached note addressed to Catherine on the same notepad and written in the same style as the ...

The spy film, The World Is Not Enough (1999), is the nineteenth installment in the James Bond series by Eon Productions. It features Pierce Brosnan as the iconic MI6 agent, James Bond, and is directed by Michael Apted. In Bilbao, Bond meets with Swiss banker Lachaise to retrieve funds for British oil tycoon Sir Robert King at the request of M. While attempting to extract information from Lachaise about an MI6 agent’s assassin, Bond is interrupted by his murder. He manages to escape with the money. At MI6 headquarters in London, it is discovered that the ...

GoldenEye (1995) is the seventeenth installment in the James Bond franchise brought to you by Eon Productions. Starring Pierce Brosnan as MI6 agent James Bond and directed by Martin Campbell, this film strays from utilizing any story elements from Ian Fleming’s novels. In 1986, Bond and his fellow MI6 agent Alec Trevelyan infiltrate a Soviet chemical weapons facility known as Arkangel. After a failed mission and Trevelyan’s apparent death at the hands of Colonel Arkady Grigorovich Ourumov, Bond destroys ...

Kenneth Branagh’s directorial debut, Henry V (1989), is a British historical drama film adapted from William Shakespeare’s famous play. The opening scene features Chorus, portrayed as a modern person, walking through an empty film studio and setting the stage for the main action to unfold. Throughout the film, Chorus makes multiple appearances to guide and enhance the storytelling. The act divisions in the film follow the structure of Shakespeare’s original play.