critic Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009)

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince Review

★★★★☆ 4/5

Verdict

A romance-and-memory potion chapter.

By Marcus Webb · Horror & Genre Critic · July 24, 2026

Where to watch Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Streaming: HBO Max

By region: HBO Max in the United States; HBO Max in the United Kingdom

Full scores & availability on the movie page.

Guides for Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Watch Order Guides Harry Potter Watch Order: Movies, Fantastic Beasts & HBO Series

Is Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince worth watching?

Yes — 83% Celluloid Score. Dumbledore tries to prepare Harry for the final battle with Voldemort while Death Eaters wreak havoc in both Muggle and Wizard worlds.

Directed by David Yates, the film remains a cornerstone of the Harry Potter watch order on Celluloid, scored alongside the rest of the Wizarding World catalogue and the upcoming HBO series Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.

Verdict

A romance-and-memory potion chapter — quieter than the finales, but crucial Voldemort origin lore before the war fully detonates. Pair it with our full franchise watch order and where-to-watch notes on the movie page.