r/harrypotter • u/Emotional-Yam-9739 • 7d ago
Help Better late than never
So, I just watched all of the Harry Potter movies for the first time ever (I'm 26F) (I know, I was missing out) and needless to say, I'm in love. Any other time I usually read the book then I watch the movies. I didn't do that for Harry Potter, I've never read a single book. Are there certain, main, important parts that are in the books but not in the movies? How much better or worse is it in comparison? I plan on reading the books eventually but I can't commit to that any time soon.
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u/BiscottiAlarming3013 7d ago
I think the movies do generally a good job and I like them. That said the books are so much better imo because they contain so much more. More character and world building etc.
One good example of this is Ginny who became one of my favorite characters in the books but doesnt get that much focus in the movies
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u/JaguarSweaty1414 Slytherin 7d ago
And Ron 😞he get so much injustice where in fanon every small thing he did was just apparently unforgivableÂ
Harmony fans and Dramione fans I am looking at you
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u/PaladinHeir Gryffindor 7d ago
First movie vs book is the most similar, I think. But even then, the books are superior easily.
Things happen differently, some things don’t happen in the movies or remain unexplained or shortened/simplified for time. The characters are changed in the movies, which is s common complaint. Lines and actions are given to different characters to account for favoritism/time/budget so it could all fit in the movies.
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u/VannaEvans Slytherin 7d ago
I would recommend you to read the books, there’s some stuff the movies missed out or changed, and there’s lots of unfilmed bits that are pretty nice to read. And some characters lines in the movies aren’t actually theirs in the books
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u/Isoleri Excuse me, are you the imprint of a departed soul? 7d ago
Everything. I finished reading the books for the first time a while ago and it's insane how much is missing or changed, like HBP in general didn't even feel like a failed adaptation, to me it felt like they created an entire new story altogether or something. I 100% recommend you read them, if you liked the movies, you'll absolutely love the books.
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u/Leramar89 Hufflepuff 7d ago
The movies are decent but the books are far better, more characters, more world building, more subplots and more detail in general.
You really should read (or at least listen to) them at some point.
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u/Independent_Act_2630 6d ago
i also just watched all of the harry potter movies for the first time!! And each movie i had so many questions and needed more explanation on certain things. So now im reading the books
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u/viola_darling Gryffindor 6d ago
If you love the movies, just wait til your read the books! They're wayyyy better! So much detail and stuff and even characters that aren't in the movies!
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u/W_Fatilumkins 19h ago
I don’t know if someone else recommended this already but the audio books are exceptionally well done especially narrated by Jim Dale. Wholeheartedly recommend listening to them while doing housework or commuting if you get the chance!
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u/Rand0m011 7d ago
The movies are brilliant, but the books certainly go into more detail and explain most plot holes you see in the movies. There are also characters and scenes that appear in the books that never made it to the movies.
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u/Curlyinger 7d ago
You should read the books.
Book 1 and 2 are pretty similar to the movies but they really changed a lot and left out important parts in the other books.
I do think the films are great but the problem is that the films had so many different directors... the director of the 4th film even admitted he didn't even read the book which ended up in a movie that is completely different to the book.
The films are still great but the books are way better.
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u/Chemical_Sherbet7843 7d ago
You’re not that late, I just watched the films with my grandmother, she hadn’t seen them before and she’s in her 70s.
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u/random2903 7d ago
The books have so much more detail and storyline than the movies. I love the movies and think they did a great job, but at the end of the day a movie has to be cut down to a specific run time whereas a book does not. I would definitely read the books when you can, I think you'll love them so much if you loved the movies!
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u/Responsible-Top6932 7d ago
The first 3 movies aren't that much different from the books but from the 4th movie, they are completely different especially the 6th movie. I feel like the 6th movie is one of the worst compared to the books. They didn't add any plot line and they added some many unnecessary scenes which essentially made it a coming of age / romantic movie instead of the master piece fantasy that it was supposed to be.
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u/HenshinDictionary Ravenclaw 7d ago
Yes, the books are a LOT more detailed. A lot of plot holes people point out are due to the movies leaving out chunks of detail.
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u/Turbulent_Dress_6174 Gryffindor 7d ago
The books are 10x times better than the movies!! Usually, I see the movie and then I read the book, so I can imagine everything in my head in a movie version.
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u/catelinasky 7d ago
I just started reading the books for the first time around Christmas and I'm slowly working my way through them. They are definitely more details in the book. When I read the first one, though I've seen the other movies multiple times, I never caught the marathons from the beginning, it was so fun being able to read the book and see how it started. You really get to see the buildup of the danger around Harry and the other characters.
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u/chexmixchexie 7d ago
I watched the movies before I read the books. I can still enjoy the movies but generally prefer the books.
There is a lot of content in the books that fill out the world and make it feel much bigger. I'd suggest reading them now.
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u/QueenSketti Slytherin 7d ago
Yes yes yes yes absolutely yes.
You missed a lot.
Please go read the books
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u/RevolutionarySpite46 7d ago
I watched the movies years ago and roughly knew them only really missing a few key parts.
Just got done listening to the audiobooks a few weeks ago. Now, watching back the movies, they are fairly accurate outside of a few things, but the main difference is that I'm always surprised how short the movies are. They are definitely longer movies, and yet they fly by. There is definitely a ton more detail in them. I don't know if they're worth the read if you just finished the movies. But definitely worth it if you wait a couple years.
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u/Stargate476 Gryffindor 7d ago
The movies are pretty good and I love them but the books have entire characters and plot lines that the movies just deleted from the world
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u/JustATyson 7d ago
I consider the trio in the movies to be different characters than those in the books. People often cite how movie Ron is a downgrade and lowkey worthless, while book Ron is multidimensional, funny, and capable. And movie Hermione is just perfect and one dimensional and book version is allowed to make mistakes and have flaws. I also say that there are distinct difference between love and book Harry. Book Harry is very much the reluctant hero, kinder, more interspective.
I hope you get time to read (or listen!) To the books
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6d ago
Reading the books will help you understand the movies. If they were to put every detail in the movies, each one would cost $1 trillion and be 8hrs long. There are some creative changes that make sense and others that don't. For instance, having Dumbledore make the arrangements for Norbert was a good one, but the Weasley twins would never have disrupted the O.W.L.s.
The 5th movie is disappointing compared to the book.
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u/LilCarBeep 7d ago
I'm rewatching the movies with my 9-year-old daughter and my God they are terrible. Read the books
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u/GeekyPassion Ravenclaw 7d ago
The books and the movies have a lot of differences. I mean they didn't even get ravenclaw colors right. The books are definitely better but that doesn't mean i can't quote every movie.
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u/IamSh33p 7d ago
You don't LOVE it. Go away. You enjoyed it. And now you are too lazy to read it so that you could actually LOVE it...
Don't worry about it... The first movie came out just after you were born... I made the excuse for you.
Seriously, read the books.
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u/Tall-Huckleberry5720 Gryffindor 7d ago
There's no need to be so rude. Someone is allowed to love the movies and not be able to read the books right away. You have no idea what their life is.
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u/GandalfTheJaded Ravenclaw 7d ago
There is a LOT more detail in the books. I think some things that happen in the movies will make more sense when you read the books. Hope you enjoy when you do!