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Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Film poster
Directed by	Chris Columbus
Produced by	David Heyman
Written by	Novel: J.K. Rowling Screenplay: Steve Kloves
Starring	Daniel Radcliffe Rupert Grint Emma Watson Richard Harris Kenneth Branagh Christian Coulson Robbie Coltrane Jason Isaacs
Music by	John Williams
Cinematography	Roger Pratt
Editing by	Peter Honess
Release date(s)	November 15, 2002
Running time	161 min.
Country	United Kingdom  United States
Language	English
Budget	$100 million
Gross revenue	$878,988,482
Preceded by	Philosopher's Stone
Followed by	Prisoner of Azkaban
All Movie Guide profile
IMDb profile

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets is the second fantasy adventure film in the popular Harry Potter films series, based on the novel by J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. The film was released on November 15, 2002 and was directed by returning director, Chris Columbus. The screenplay was adapted by returning screenwriter, Steven Kloves.

Most of the major cast and crew from Philosopher's Stone (also known as Sorcerer's Stone) returned for Chamber of Secrets, including child stars Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint and director Chris Columbus. However, it was the last appearance by Richard Harris as Dumbledore and currently the last Harry Potter film directed by Columbus. New key actors included Kenneth Branagh as Lockhart and Jason Isaacs as Lucius Malfoy. It remains the only film in the franchise that has not been nominated for an Academy Award.

The film was very well received at the box office making $879 million USD worldwide.^[1]

Contents 1 Plot 2 Cast and characters 3 Production 4 Marketing 5 Differences from the book 6 Reaction 6.1 Critical reception 6.2 Box office performance 6.3 Awards 7 References 8 External links

Further information: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

The film opens with Harry Potter and his caged owl Hedwig staying with the Dursleys on summer break. An elf named Dobby appears in Harry’s room and warns Harry not to return to Hogwarts this fall because of terrible danger. Dobby’s disruptions result in Uncle Vernon locking Harry in his room until Harry is rescued by the Weasley brothers. Harry and Hedwig escape in the Weasleys’ flying car, and Harry finishes summer vacation at the Weasleys’ home, the Burrow. After buying their new schoolbooks, Harry and the Weasleys go to train station Platform 9 3/4, but the gateway closes on Ron and Harry before they can board the Hogwarts express. Harry and Ron use the flying car to get to Hogwarts, but the car breaks down and crashes into the sentient, angry willow tree on the school’s grounds.

New professor and celebrity wizard author Gilderoy Lockhart (Kenneth Branagh) now teaches at Hogwarts. Harry resumes quidditch practice with team Gryffindor. This year, Slytherin’s seeker is Harry’s rival Draco Malfoy, who sports a Nimbus 2001 broomstick. The ominous Chamber of Secrets (secretly located beneath the sink in the ladies’ restroom) has opened, and Professor McGonagall reveals to the students how Hogwarts' founder Salazar Slytherin built the chamber long ago. Salazar disliked muggles (non-wizard humans) and muggleborn wizards, and emerges as something of a racial supremacist. Salazar had sealed the chamber until his heir had returned to school. Professor McGonagall also reveals that the chamber is guarded by a monster.

Harry and Ron temporarily take on the form of Crabbe and Goyle to gain information from Draco Malfoy. Meanwhile, the same potion turns Hermione into a large cat, and she is unable to turn back. The inevitable Quidditch match between Slytherin and Gryffindor results in a Gryffindor victory after Harry captures the snitch , but is attacked by a rogue bludger that breaks his arm. The pompous Professor Lockhart tries to heal Harry's arm, but instead removes Harry’s arm bones. Harry's arm recovers quickly.

Odd events occur: a Muggle-born student is petrified, and young Ginny Weasley starts losing her memory. Hagrid is arrested and sent to Azkaban prison for harboring Aragog, a giant spider mistakenly thought to be the Chamber monster, and Dumbledore is removed as headmaster in the wake of all the problems. A girls’ restroom ghost named Moaning Myrtle, an original victim of the Chamber of Secrets, provides Harry and Ron with Tom Marvolo Riddle’s talking diary.

One evening, Harry and Ron are called to the hospital wing. Upon their arrival, they are directed to Hermione's bed, when they reach her, she is petrified, shocking Harry and Ron. With Hermione's petrification, leaving Ron and Harry feeling terrible for what occurred, she is unable to help the two boys. This leaves them both with the task themselves to solve the cause of events that are threatening to close Hogwarts, and have to ultimately save all those that have fallen victim to petrification.

The massive spider Aragog aids Harry and Ron in learning that the chamber is guarded by a monstrous snake called a basilisk, which kills with its gaze. Harry and Ron learn that Professor Lockhart is not the great wizard he has appeared to be, and deceives people using a memory charm. After Ginny Weasley is taking into the Chamber of Secrets, with a message left on the wall that "her skeleton will lie in the Chamber forever", Harry, Ron, and Lockhart enter the ladies room to rescue Ginny from the Chamber under the sink. Harry descends a long tunnel, and with aid from the Sorting Hat and Dumbledore’s Phoenix bird, Harry battles the Basilisk and Tom Marvolo Riddle. Riddle’s name is an anagram for “I am Lord Voldemort,” and Riddle is, in fact, the sixteen-year-old soul of Lord Voldemort, preserved in the diary. Harry kills the Basilisk with Godric Gryffindor's Sword and defeats Riddle by destroying the diary, rescuing Ginny in the process.

The petrified students and Hermione are cured. Hagrid is freed from Azkaban, elf Dobby is freed from service to the Malfoys, and Dumbledore is restored as Hogwarts’ headmaster. The film ends with Hogwarts lit up from the Great Hall.

See also: List of Harry Potter films cast members

• Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter: Now entering his second year at Hogwarts, Harry faces the accusation that he is the Heir of Slytherin, and responsible for the attacks on fellow students.
• Rupert Grint as Ron Weasley: One of Harry's best friends. He takes his father's flying car to Hogwarts, after he and Harry miss the Hogwarts Express.
• Emma Watson as Hermione Granger: One of Harry's best friends. She investigates what is really the cause of the attacks on students, only to be petrified herself.
• Richard Harris as Albus Dumbledore: The Hogwarts headmaster and one of the greatest wizards of the age. He is removed from his position as the attacks increase.
• Kenneth Branagh as Gilderoy Lockhart: The incredibly vain and famous Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher. He is secretly completely useless, and faked all of his achievements.
• Christian Coulson as Tom Marvolo Riddle: The memory of a young Lord Voldemort, imprinted into his old diary.
• Bonnie Wright as Ginny Weasley: Ron's younger sister, who becomes possessed by Riddle's diary. She opens the Chamber of Secrets, under his control.
• Robbie Coltrane as Rubeus Hagrid: The Hogwarts groundkeeper, who is initially blamed for the attacks and sent to Azkaban. Martin Bayfield plays him in the flashback scene.
• Maggie Smith as Minerva McGonagall: The Hogwarts deputy headmistress.
• Alan Rickman as Severus Snape: The Hogwarts potions master.
• Tom Felton as Draco Malfoy: Harry's enemy, who the trio believe to actually be the Heir of Slytherin.
• Jason Isaacs as Lucius Malfoy: Draco's father, and a former Death Eater.
• Shirley Henderson as Moaning Myrtle: The ghost of a Hogwarts student killed by the Basilisk years ago.
• Toby Jones as the voice of Dobby: The Malfoy's house elf, who goes behind the family's back to help Harry during the course of the year.
• Robert Hardy as Cornelius Fudge: The Minister for Magic.
• Julian Glover as the voice of Aragog: A giant Acromantula that lives the forest and is owned by Hagrid.
• Miriam Margolyes as Pomona Sprout: The Hogwarts Herbology teacher, who creates a cure for those who are petrified.
• Julie Walters and Mark Williams as Molly Weasley and Arthur Weasley: Ron's parents.
• Richard Griffiths and Fiona Shaw as Vernon and Petunia Dursley: Harry's uncaring aunt and uncle.
• Harry Melling as Dudley Dursley: Harry's overweight cousin.
• Hugh Mitchell as Colin Creevey: A Muggle-born student who idolizes Harry.

Production for Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets began on November 19, 2001, just three days after the widespread release of the first Harry Potter film. It was shot on location on the Isle of Man, in several places in Great Britain, and at Leavesden Film Studios in London. Filming finished in the summer of 2002.^[2]

Hugh Grant accepted the role of Gilderoy Lockhart, reportedly dyeing his hair blonde, but due to a scheduling conflict he had to drop out.^[3] On October 25, 2001, Kenneth Branagh was selected as Grant's replacement.^[4]

The film's soundtrack was released on November 12, 2002. The film's scores were composed by John Williams, with some new material written by composer William Ross from adaptations of Williams' score, when he was unavailable due to time constraints. The soundtrack was conducted by William Ross. A video game based on the film was released in 2002.

Very few plotlines are entirely absent from the film adaptation, although some are condensed on account of time considerations. Many of the more truncated themes were originally written in a more comprehensive form, but did not make the final cut. Many of these are included on the DVD edition as deleted scenes, including the Malfoys in Borgin and Burkes, several discussions about Harry being the heir of Slytherin, and the fight between Arthur Weasley and Lucius Malfoy in Flourish and Blotts.

The only significant deviation from the literary canon is in the effects of the Polyjuice Potion.^[5] In the book, the Potion causes the drinker to assume the exact appearance of the target, including their voice and any disabilities (such as poor eyesight). In the film adaptation, while the potion alters Harry and Ron's appearance, their voices were left unchanged to reduce confusion. This alteration is retconned in subsequent Harry Potter films – in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire Barty Crouch Jr, under the influence of the potion, perfectly assumes the voice of Alastor Moody.

A few characters were removed from the script and their lines reassigned to other characters. In particular, the ghost Professor Binns is absent from the film, so his expository scene about the Chamber of Secrets is instead given by Professor McGonnagall. Peeves is also absent from the film, as in all the other film adaptations.^[5]

Reviews were generally positive, it holds an 82% "Certified Fresh" rating at Rotten Tomatoes^[6] and a score of 63 out of 100 at Metacritic representing "generally favorable reviews".^[7] Roger Ebert called The Chamber of Secrets "a phenomenal film" and gave the film 4 out of 4 stars, especially praising the set design.^[8] Entertainment Weekly commended the film for being better and darker than its predecessor: "And among the things this Harry Potter does very well indeed is deepen the darker, more frightening atmosphere for audiences. This is as it should be: Harry's story is supposed to get darker".^[9] Richard Roeper praised the directing and the films faithfulness to the book, saying: "Chris Columbus, the director, does a real wonderful job of being faithful to the story but also taking it into a cinematic era".^[10] Variety called the film "a bit overlong", but praised the film for being darker and more dramatic than The Philosopher's Stone: "it possesses a confidence and intermittent flair that begin to give it a life of its own apart of the literary franchise, something the initial picture never achieved".^[11] Dana Stevens from The New York Times said: "instead of feeling stirred you may feel battered and worn down, but not, in the end, too terribly disappointed".^[12]

Some negative criticism came from Peter Travers from The Rolling Stone condeming the film for being overlong and too faithful to the book: "Once again, director Chris Columbus takes a hat-in-hand approach to Rowling that stifles creativity and allows the film to drag on for nearly three hours".^[13] Kenneth Turan from The Los Angeles Times called the film "a cliche" and noted: "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets is deja vu all over again, it's likely that whatever you thought of the first production -- pro or con -- you'll likely think of this one".^[14]

The film Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets premiered in the UK on November 3, 2002 and in USA on November 14, 2002 before its widespread release on November 15, one year after the Philosopher's Stone film (November 16, 2001). The film broke multiple records upon its opening all over the world. In the U.S. the film opened to an $88.4 million opening weekend, third biggest all-tme at the time, behind only Spider-Man and its predecessor Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone.^[15] In the United Kingdom the film broke all opening records that were previously held by The Philosopher's Stone. It made £18.9 million during its opening including previews and £10.9 million excluding previews, both extraordinary records.^[16] It went on to make £54.8 million in the U.K., the fifth biggest tally of all time at the time.^[17]

The film made a total of $879 million worldwide,^[18] which made it the fifth highest-grossing film ever at the time.^[19] It was the second highest grossing film of 2002 behind The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers worldwide.^[20] However, it was the number one film of the year at the non-American box office making about $617 million compared to The Two Towers' $584.5 million.^[21] To this day it remains as one of the highest grossing films of all time, at number 13.

On January 14, 2003, Chamber of Secrets won the award for "Best Live Action Family Film" in the Phoenix Film Critics Society Awards. It was nominated for seven Saturn Awards including for "Best Director", "Best Fantasy Film" and "Best Performance by a Younger Actor" for Daniel Radcliffe. The film was nominated for four BAFTA Awards and a Grammy Award for John Williams' score. However, currently it is the only Harry Potter film that was not nominated for any Academy Awards.^[22]

• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets at the Internet Movie Database

v • d • e The Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling
Philosopher's Stone	book • film • game • soundtrack
Chamber of Secrets	book • film • game • soundtrack
Prisoner of Azkaban	book • film • game • soundtrack
Goblet of Fire	book • film • game • soundtrack
Order of the Phoenix	book • film • game • soundtrack
Half-Blood Prince	book • film
Deathly Hallows	book • film
Characters	Harry Potter • Ron Weasley • Hermione Granger • Lord Voldemort • Albus Dumbledore • Severus Snape • Sirius Black • Rubeus Hagrid • Minerva McGonagall • Draco Malfoy • Ginny Weasley • Neville Longbottom • Luna Lovegood • Remus Lupin • Weasley family • Dursley family • James and Lily Potter • Hogwarts staff • Dark Wizards • Ministry Officials
Universe	Locations • Magic • Spells • Quidditch • Hogwarts • Ministry of Magic • Magical creatures
Other	Harry Potter influences and analogues • Politics of Harry Potter • Religious debates over the Harry Potter series • Legal disputes over the Harry Potter series • Chronology of the Harry Potter stories • Harry Potter music • Harry Potter fandom • Parodies of Harry Potter • Harry Potter in translation • List of Harry Potter films cast members • The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
Other Literature	Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them • Quidditch Through the Ages  • The Tales of Beedle the Bard
Other Games	Harry Potter: Quidditch World Cup • Lego Creator: Harry Potter • Harry Potter Trading Card Game