Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire Gets PG-13 Rating

Posted on October 25, 2005

As Harry, Hermione and Ron grow up, their adventures become darker and more frightening. The upcoming film version of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire is the first of the four Harry Potter films to be rated PG-13. USA Today reports:

In the USA, PG-13 carries with it a caution for parents and warns that some material may be inappropriate for children under 13. Goblet is cited for its sequences of fantasy violence and frightening images.
Says director Mike Newell: "Audiences that began with No. 1 and are now 14, 15, 16 years old will kind of want to know you are not infantilizing the situation. These are not children's books; these are adult stories."
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Goblet features the first appearance by the evil Lord Voldemort, played by Ralph Fiennes, and culminates in a graveyard battle between Harry and Voldemort that includes a torture scene.

Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter) thinks it depends on the child as to whether or not the film scary. He tells USA Today, "If you are a very sensitive 10-year-old, you probably couldn't see it, but then again, if you are a very resilient 5-year-old, you could. What's great is there is all the intensity, and that's fantastic. I think people would have been disappointed if we had pulled away from that. At the same time, you have got a lot more comedy. It is the funniest of the films so far. There is a nice balance of light and shade."

It sounds amazing. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire hits theaters in a wide release on November 18, 2005. And you can bet we'll be there with extra popcorn.