--- title: "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/harry-potter-and-the-deathly-hallows-part-2/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/harry-potter-and-the-deathly-hallows-part-2" critics_score: 82 critics_reviews: 18 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (2011): what the critics said Critics' score 82 from 18 reviews: 15 positive, 3 mixed, 0 negative. Most critics find Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 a satisfying farewell, with action and emotional weight given room to work together. Praise centres on David Yates’s handling of large-scale battles alongside quieter character moments, and on an ensemble that makes limited screen time count. Alan Rickman draws particular attention, while Daniel Radcliffe earns strong notices for carrying the story’s heavier demands. The reservations concern how well the film stands alone and whether its closing passages deliver the expected feeling. Variety admires the urgency but finds the climax hurried and emotionally muted; HeyUGuys argues that the abrupt opening and insufficient buildup make it work better alongside Part 1. Den of Geek also questions Radcliffe’s handling of the dramatic weight, bucking the broader praise. The spread is predominantly positive rather than sharply divided, with even the mixed reviews finding worthwhile performances or sequences. ## Radio Times — Alan Jones Rating 5/5. The fantasy franchise comes to a hugely satisfying and teary-eyed conclusion as Harry and Voldemort clash for the last time. Every beloved character gets their moment, with the Snape backstory and revelation about Harry's destiny packing an emotional wallop. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-ahl8vv/harry-potter-and-the-deathly-hallows-part-2/) ## Time Out — Joshua Rothkopf Rating 5/5. 11 July 2011. The final film supplies Daniel Radcliffe with gravitas from an epic story's completion and real dramatic heft. Stewarded by director David Yates, this fleet, triumphant sequel puts people first. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/harry-potter-and-the-deathly-hallows-part-2-1) ## Empire — Helen O'Hara Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 12 November 2010. The final film is a worthy farewell that packs in spectacular action and emotional beats without stinting on either. It excels in human moments, particularly the revelations around Snape, and gives Daniel Radcliffe his strongest showcase as Harry faces his destiny. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/harry-potter-deathly-hallows-part-2-review/) ## Screen Daily Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 8 July 2011. Bowing out in 3D, the film is a magnificently entertaining movie brimming with energy and excitement, allowing screen time for the cast to bid farewell. Part 2 is all about thrills, spills and action in the final showdown with Voldemort. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/-harry-potter-and-the-deathly-hallows-part-2/5029674.article) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Todd McCarthy Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 6 July 2011. The film provides a satisfying and exciting conclusion to the franchise, fully justifying the split of the final book. Yates orchestrates the massive events with impressive finesse and dramatic composition. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/harry-potter-deathly-hallows-part-3-208421/) ## The AV Club — Tasha Robinson Rating B+. 14 July 2011. The shortest entry delivers epic scope and final payoffs after dispensing with side quests. It mines the book for excitement and pathos with grand dramatic moments and strong supporting performances. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/harry-potter-and-the-deathly-hallows-part-2-1798168896) ## Evening Standard Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 10 April 2012. The finale is a great British triumph, twice as good as Part 1 and highly recommended as a genuine action movie buoyed by a sense of occasion. It succeeds through its war-footing pace from the Gringotts raid to the Hogwarts battle, with strong performances from the leads and standout turns from supporting cast like Helena Bonham Carter. [Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/harry-potter-and-the-deathly-hallows-part-2-review-7425797.html) ## Slant Magazine — Jaime N. Christley Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 13 July 2011. Yates balances large-scale chaos with small, still moments and emotional abstraction in familiar images. The direction finds perspective and elegance amid the bombast, highlighted by strong performances like Rickman's. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/harry-potter-and-the-deathly-hallows-part-2/) ## The Independent Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 2 December 2011. David Yates honours J.K. Rowling with an ashen-faced, unrelenting final chapter that draws franchise-best work from the three leads and features a highlight wand-off with Voldemort. It is solid and occasionally moving but suffers from being merely the third act of one story, resulting in an oddly unheroic climax. [Read the review](https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/reviews/dvd-harry-potter-and-the-deathly-hallows-part-2-12-6270465.html) ## The New Yorker — David Denby Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 14 July 2011. The critic describes the film as a battle movie that is dismal and death-ridden but a fitting conclusion to the pop epic. He notes David Yates directed the most powerful of the last four entries, though ultimately expresses relief that the long run is over. [Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2011/07/25/the-longest-journey) ## Los Angeles Times — Kenneth Turan 13 July 2011. The critic finds it one of the best in the series and a satisfying storybook finish worth the wait after the franchise's ups and downs. He singles out the deep bench of British acting talent, especially Alan Rickman as Snape, for making the strongest impression. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2011-jul-13-la-et-harry-potter-20110714-story.html) ## The Guardian — Peter Bradshaw 14 July 2011. The critic praises the film as a dramatically satisfying, spectacular and terrifically exciting conclusion that restores the essential magic to the series. They single out the superb set-piece scenes, including the Gringotts bank sequence and the confrontation involving Snape, for their power and originality. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2011/jul/14/harry-potter-and-the-deathly-hallows-part-2-review) ## The New York Times — Manohla Dargis Rating Critic's Pick. 13 July 2011. The critic calls it a grave, deeply satisfying final movie in the series. She praises the way it handles the apocalyptic events with focus, somber tone, and beauty, highlighting strong performances especially from Ralph Fiennes and Alan Rickman. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/15/movies/harry-potter-and-the-deathly-hallows-part-2-review.html) ## The Telegraph 5 July 2011. The critic calls the film monumental cinema that overcomes deficiencies in the source material to deliver a genuinely terrifying battle spectacle at Hogwarts. They single out the elegiac tenderness in human relationships, the wit from characters like Neville, and the overall message about overcoming inner darkness for particular praise. [Read the review](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/harry-potter/8619487/Harry-Potter-and-the-Deathly-Hallows-Part-2-review.html) ## Variety — Justin Chang 6 July 2011. The critic praises the tremendous urgency, superb spectacle, and powerful emotion in the first 90 minutes but faults the hasty, emotionally muted climax and sendoff. He highlights the inventive siege at Hogwarts and strong supporting turns, especially Alan Rickman's Snape reveal. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2011/film/reviews/harry-potter-and-the-deathly-hallows-part-2-1117945605/) ## Collider — Matt Goldberg Rating A-. 14 July 2011. The critic calls the film an exhilarating, emotionally powerful and beautiful conclusion to the series. They single out the tremendous pacing of the battles, the emotional weight of the montages and revelations, and standout performances especially from Alan Rickman and Matthew Lewis. [Read the review](https://collider.com/harry-potter-deathly-hallows-part-2-review/) ## Eye for Film — Amber Wilkinson Rating 4.5/5. 16 July 2011. Yates and Kloves deliver a strong send-off with skillful tension between menace and action, superlative battle scenes that emphasize poignancy over triumph, and excellent handling of emotional notes and characters grown familiar over the series. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/harry-potter-and-the-deathly-hallows-part-2-film-review-by-amber-wilkinson) ## The Playlist — The Playlist Staff Rating A-. 13 July 2011. The finale succeeds emotionally, dramatically and cinematically as a satisfying conclusion, with strong performances especially from Radcliffe, gorgeous battle sequences, and effective direction from Yates that makes the audience feel something beyond spectacle. [Read the review](https://theplaylist.net/review-harry-potter-the-death-hallows-pt-2-is-an-utterly-magical-conclusion-to-the-franchise-20110713/) ## /Film — Germain Lussier Rating 8.5/10. 16 July 2011. The film lives up to the hype as a gratifying close to the franchise with layered emotions and a sense of gravitas, delivering a near-perfect cherry on top that fans and even non-fans will find satisfying despite some minor shortcomings. [Read the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/516499/harry-potter-deathly-hallows-part-2-movie-review/) ## The Wrap Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 6 July 2011. The final Harry Potter film brings its A-game from start to finish and delivers a cathartic conclusion for devoted fans. The critic singles out the strong performances, particularly Alan Rickman's multifaceted Snape and the ensemble's ability to make the most of limited screen time amid the epic battle sequences. [Read the review](https://www.thewrap.com/harry-potter-goes-out-magical-bang-28862/) ## Den of Geek — Louisa Mellor Rating 4/5. 7 July 2011. Praises the film's visual wizardry, action set pieces and fidelity to the source material but criticizes some emotional scenes and Daniel Radcliffe's performance in carrying the heavy dramatic weight. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/harry-potter-and-the-deathly-hallows-part-2-review/) ## Digital Spy — Simon Reynolds Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 7 July 2011. Calls it a spectacular closing chapter packed with breathtaking action sequences and moving performances, highlighting strong set pieces and emotional payoff while noting minor pacing issues in some scenes. [Read the review](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a328237/harry-potter-and-the-deathly-hallows-part-2-review/) ## HeyUGuys — Ben Mortimer Rating 3/5. 7 July 2011. The review finds the film struggles as a standalone entity due to its abrupt start and lack of emotional buildup after Part 1, making the finale feel flat despite strong character moments and sequences. It works much better viewed as part of a double bill. [Read the review](https://www.heyuguys.com/harry-potter-and-the-deathly-hallows-part-two-review/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/harry-potter-and-the-deathly-hallows-part-2.md