For over twenty-five years, people worldwide have revered Harry Potter as one of the best fictional worlds of all time, falling in love with its captivating characters and compelling story arcs. Given the breadth of the seven novels, there are numerous surprises that intrigued and delighted fans of all ages.
Every movie has its twist moments, some more obvious than others. Still, these twists are not just for shock; they hold relevance within the series' narrative and bridge gaps in the story. These reveals are so crucial, they hold up even in a re-watch. Unlike lesser plot twists, the surprises in Harry Potter are additive to the larger story throughout the movies.
Updated by Alexandra Locke on February 10, 2023: The Harry Potter franchise is known for its plot twists and character bombshells – especially in the latter half of the series. These surprises were so expertly woven into the story that fans today rewatch the series and still find new clues hidden along the way. This article has been updated to remind audiences of the best and most shocking plot twists Harry Potter had to offer.
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13 Time Travel Was Introduced And Shaped Events That Had Already Unfolded
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Without prior knowledge of the books, those experiencing the Harry Potter movies for the first time may be confused during the Prisoner of Azkaban. Introducing time travel with the Time-Turner may seem entirely out of the blue, especially given that the reveal takes place toward the film's end.
Despite never directly addressing time travel until the end, the third movie alludes to the topic's possibility plenty of times. There are several hints of Hermione being in two places at once. To the untrained viewer, though, these mentions are easily brushed aside until Hermione reveals the Time-Turner. Viewers watch as Harry and Hermione save the day, simultaneously avoiding their past selves while ensuring they change the future.
12 Ginny Is The Girl Taken To The Chamber Of Secrets
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets is packed full of drama. From the mystery surrounding Hagrid's past arrest to the various petrification attacks on students, plenty is happening in the series' second entry. First-time viewers may think Hermione's petrification is the worst thing to happen to the Golden Trio, but it is not.
Shortly after Hermione's attack, the Chamber of Secrets claims another victim. This time they are not petrified but missing entirely. All that is left is a cryptic message on a wall, written in blood, "Her skeleton will lie in the chamber forever." Students do not know who is missing until Ron and Harry eavesdrop on a conversation between several professors. Through this discussion, the two heroes learn that Ron's sister, Ginny, has been taken into the Chamber.
11 The Concept Of Voldemort's Horcruxes Was Uncovered
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
The Pensieve, a magical device used to store and review memories, is first introduced in The Goblet of Fire. However, the movies do not fully explore this device's importance until the sixth installment, The Half-Blood Prince. Through the Pensieve, Dumbledore and Harry learn about Voldemort and his past, when he was still going by Tom Riddle. To get the entire truth, Dumbledore enlists Harry to retrieve a memory from Hogwarts' new Potions Master, Professor Slughorn.
Eventually, Harry acquires the memory, and he and Dumbledore learn the truth about the Dark Lord's actions. In a conversation with Slughorn, a young Riddle inquires about Horcruxes. This memory confirms Dumbledore's suspicions that Voldemort has split his soul into several pieces, which he subsequently hid around the world. The Horcrux reveal also added a glimmer of hope in the battle to defeat the Dark Lord.
10 Professor Moody Exposed Himself As Barty Crouch Jr. Using Polyjuice Potion
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Those familiar with Harry Potter lore know the role of Professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts at Hogwarts is a cursed position. In fact, throughout the books and movies, a villainous figure often takes the mantle. Given this history, it should be no surprise the DADA teacher in the Goblet of Fire is not who he says he is.
As with the Time-Turner twist in Prisoner of Azkaban, the movie hints at this possibility throughout its runtime. Audiences see Barty Crouch Jr. in Harry's vision, at the Quidditch World Cup, and in Dumbledore's memory. Nevertheless, when the film finally reveals Professor Moody is truthfully Barty Crouch Jr. Who had been using Polyjuice Potion, it is a compelling twist. This is especially true considering how "helpful" Moody had been during Harry's time in the Triwizard Tournament.
9 Sirius Black, Professor Lupin, and Peter Pettigrew All Have Secrets Revealed
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
The Prisoner of Azkaban is the only Harry Potter movie that does not feature Voldemort's past, present, or future. Instead, it operates with Sirius Black as the film's primary antagonist. For most of the movie, the Golden Trio believes Sirius is an escaped murderer who was partly responsible for the death of Harry's parents. Harry is furious, not scared of Sirius, and he welcomes the idea of meeting him, hoping to get back at him for selling out his parents to Voldemort.
Towards the end of the movie, Prisoner of Azkaban flips the status quo on its head and delivers three plot twists in rapid succession. First, Professor Lupin, the current DADA teacher, is both a friend of Sirius Black and a werewolf. Second, it was not Sirius who betrayed the Potters; it was Peter Pettigrew. The Ministry of Magic sent Sirius to prison for attempting to kill Peter in response. Finally, the movie reveals Pettigrew has been alive the whole time, disguised as Ron's pet rat, Scabbers.
8 Lupin Discloses The Shrieking Shack's True Purpose
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Ron and Harry first encounter the Shrieking Shack in the Prisoner of Azkaban. The pair and the rest of the Hogwarts students believe the dilapidated hut is haunted, so students go out of their way to avoid the shack. But while telling the true story of the Marauders, Lupin reveals the real purpose of the Shrieking Shack.
After the three serious twists about Sirius, Lupin, and Peter, a fourth, but somewhat insignificant, twist was revealed. While detailing the Marauders' backstories, Lupin divulges that he used to use the Shrieking Shack on nights he would transform into a werewolf. During these transformations, the rest of the Marauders would accompany Lupin to ensure he would not feel alone. The stories of the haunted shrieks that the students heard were not the cries of spooky specters; they were Lupin's pained howls.
7 The Triwizard Cup Was A Portkey Designed To Advance Voldemort's Return
Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire
In the final challenge of the Triwizard Tournament in the Goblet of Fire, Harry Potter and Cedric Diggory find themselves as the last two competitors. Working together, they reach for the Triwizard Cup simultaneously. What should have been a moment of triumph quickly turns to horror as the cup is a disguised Portkey, which transports them to a graveyard in Little Hangleton.
Peter Pettigrew and a sickly Lord Voldemort confront Harry and Cedric in the graveyard. The Dark Lord orders Pettigrew to kill Cedric, who quickly obliges. Wormtail then severs his hand and, with a dash of Harry's blood, uses it to restore Voldemort to all his glory. This scene remains one of the most shocking moments in Harry Potter history and marks a dark turning point in the story.
6 Voldemort Existed On The Back Of Quirrell's Head
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
As the first entry in a series, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone establishes a world of wonder and magical intrigue. In addition to this first-class world-building, The Sorcerer's Stone cultivates a tangible feeling of dread regarding the film's true villain. The movie implies Lord Voldemort's return throughout the movie, with Professor Snape acting especially suspicious.
It is not until the final challenge for the Sorcerer's Stone that Harry learns the identity of his antagonist. Upon reaching the last stage, he discovers Professor Quirrell waiting for him. But Professor Quirrell is not alone. The teacher unwraps the turban he has worn the entire movie, unveiling the face of Voldemort on the back of his head. It is one of the first twists of the series and still holds up upon re-watch.
5 Tom Marvolo Riddle Unveiled His True Identity
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
When Harry becomes obsessed with the enchanted diary of Tom Riddle in Chamber of Secrets, it is almost immediately evident there is more to the owner's journal than he reveals in his exchanges with Harry. Still, it is not until the final scene that Harry learns Tom Riddle's true identity.
Upon discovering the Chamber of Secrets, Harry sees an unconscious Ginny Weasley with Tom standing over her. He introduces himself, but Harry is slow to catch on. Using magic, Riddle shows Harry his name, Tom Marvolo Riddle, which is an anagram of "I Am Lord Voldemort". It is such a clever reveal that fans can forgive Harry for not catching on sooner.
4 Snape Kills Dumbledore And Has One Final Reveal
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
The Harry Potter series often delivers its major plot twists in twos or threes, increasing their impact and effect on audiences. Harry Potter and The Half-Blood Prince is no exception to such quick-hitting deliveries.
A sinister-looking Draco Malfoy greets Harry and Dumbledore upon their return to Hogwarts from a grueling journey to retrieve a Horcrux. Given viewers already know Voldemort tasked Malfoy with killing the headmaster, it is not particularly shocking. The real twist comes when Snape steps in and kills Dumbledore himself. As previously mentioned, an additional twist comes immediately after, with Snape revealing, much to Harry's chagrin, that he is the titular Half-Blood Prince.
3 The Final Pensieve Memory Demonstrates Snape's True Colors
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
In The Deathly Hallows: Part 2, the Harry Potter saga draws to a close with the jaw-dropping Battle of Hogwarts. Before this final skirmish, the Golden Trio witnesses Voldemort betray and kill Snape, falsely believing it will grant him complete control of the Elder Wand. With his last words, an emotional Snape begs Harry to take his tears to the Pensieve, so he can finally learn the truth.
Through these memories, Harry learns Snape is not the monster he previously believed. Snape's love for Harry's mother, Lilly, has motivated him throughout the series. Snape was simply following Dumbledore's orders to keep Harry safe until the time was right, including when he killed the beloved headmaster. Harry also learns the horrifying fact that his own body is Voldemort's final Horcrux. Therefore, Harry must let Voldemort strike him down to ensure Harry can finally end the Dark Lord's terrible reign.
2 Dumbledore Knew More Than He Let On
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
In the Harry Potter universe, people widely accept Albus Dumbledore as one of the world's most brilliant and powerful wizards. Still, as audiences advanced through the series, it became easier to doubt Dumbledore. In the Order of the Phoenix, Dumbledore appears aloof and distant to Harry, which makes Harry feel isolated and alone.
After his death, Dumbledore's plan invites even more questions, and Harry begins to doubt his former mentor's actions. It is only after death that Harry learns the full extent of Dumbledore's grasp on the situation. During their conversation at the heavenly Platform Nine and Three-Quarters, Dumbledore divulges that he knew Harry was the final Horcrux. Additionally, he knew Harry would willingly sacrifice himself, thus ensuring his safety.
1 Narcissa Malfoy Assisted The Chosen One
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
When audiences first meet Draco's mother, Narcissa Malfoy, in the Half-Blood Prince, it is easy to assume she is as ruthless as the rest of the Malfoy clan. This reputation makes Narcissa's actions in Deathly Hallows: Part Two even more surprising. After Harry walks into the forest and allows Voldemort to strike him down, Narcissa is the first person to check to see if he is still alive. She asks Harry if her son is still alive, and he nods in affirmation.
Sensing an opportunity to protect Draco, Narcissa lies to the Dark Lord, telling him Harry is dead. While she does so for Draco's sake, not Harry's, this falsehood is as responsible for Voldemort's demise as almost any other individual action in the Harry Potter saga.