Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005)

Directed by: Mike Newell

Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint

J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter is the wizard who has enamored a generation of readers and moviegoers alike for more than a decade.  In the fourth installment in this film franchise, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry hosts the Triwizard Tournament in which a student wizard from each of the three competing school participates in a series of magical challenges.  Participants in the competition are selected by the Goblet of Fire.  Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) is controversially selected by the Goblet to compete in this dangerous tournament.  As Potter competes in the Triwizard Tournament, he realizes that a greater danger is posed by the imminent return of his nemesis Lord Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes).  Up to this point, the Harry Potter movies had just been very popular children’s films.  Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire takes a dark turn for the franchise and sets the tone for the second half of the series.  It’s a grand adventure full of magic, dragons, and death that is arguably the best film of the franchise.