It’s no secret that some of us (including me) find escapism in the Wizarding World. So I won’t explain myself any further but get to the point where I recently hit play on a Harry Potter rewatch marathon, only to realize that in the Deathly Hallows films—the actual plot device in the title—barely mattered. I’m talking about the Invisibility Cloak, the Resurrection Stone, and the Elder Wand. 

Sure, they’re there in the films, but are they really treated like the legendary trio that’s supposed to unlock the secret of mastering death? Not really. The wand gets hyped to high heaven, the stone just comes and goes, and the cloak—Harry’s been using it since his first year like it’s just another school supply. In the book, the Deathly Hallows are a turning point—a symbolic and narrative payoff.

However, in the movies, I felt like they’re kind of just power-ups. A cool symbol slapped on the poster, with no real emotional punch, and no philosophical weightage—just three fancy magical items that conveniently show up when needed. So yes, I rewatched Harry Potter, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that Warner Bros named the finale after a plot device they completely forgot to properly use. 

Even though Order of the Phoenix is the longest book in the Harry Potter saga, with crucial, unskippable details, Warner Bros. decided to turn Deathly Hallows into a two-part movie. And yet, failed to do justice to the storyline. I mean, while J.K. Rowling‘s final book built a deep mystery around the Hallows—the films just sort of tossed them in as if they’re last-minute additions to the plot.

Yes, The Tale of the Three Brothers was visually stunning, but after that there was no follow-up, no deep reflection, no sense of urgency around collecting or understanding the three items. In the movies, the Elder Wand becomes a prized possession that everyone’s chasing, the Resurrection Stone shows up at the end, for a brief period, and the Invisibility Cloak was so overused that it never felt like a part of the Deathly Hallows.

That’s wild, considering it’s the only Deathly Hallows item that Harry had all along, which by the way, truly symbolized who he was. So, upon a closer watch, what frustrated me is that, instead of tying the storylines together using these three legendary objects, the Deathly Hallows films prioritized action, horcrux hunts, and emotional farewells. It’s like they introduced an epic final riddle and didn’t bother solving it.

The three Deathly Hallows items were supposed to represent different ways of facing death. In the book, they had meaning. But in the movie, I felt like Warner Bros. used them like background props. You know like a cool logo slapped on the movie poster, but barely makes sense in the storytelling. Honestly, if they had titled the finale movie as The Battle of Hogwarts, it might have made more sense.

Now, let me explain the reason behind my frustration. When I read the book, I remember feeling like the Deathly Hallows were the final mystery, the last puzzle piece in Harry’s journey. They weren’t just magical items—they were symbols. The Elder Wand represented power, the Resurrection Stone symbolized longing and regret, and the Invisibility Cloak was about acceptance. 

In the book, death isn’t depicted as something to fight or fear—it’s something to meet with understanding (like an old friend). And Harry’s journey was never about being unstoppable—it was about learning to let go. That’s what makes Harry’s choices so powerful. He never seeks out the Hallows for dominance—he uses the wand only to fix his own (something that the movie switched), and he drops the Resurrection Stone without a second glance. 

Meanwhile, although Harry keeps the cloak, it’s not for fame, but to protect others. In that quiet, humble way, he becomes the true Master of Death. Not because he owns the Hallows, but because he understands them. That message hit me hard when I read the book—and I wish the films had shown it more clearly. Instead, the Harry Potter movies leaned into the action, the drama, the horcrux-hunting. 

I mean I know it was all for a thrilling showdown. But when I rewatched them, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something deeper had been left out. The Deathly Hallows were never about who had the strongest wand or coolest artifact. They were about choice, love, sacrifice, and facing the unknown. That’s what made the ending so meaningful. But the movies missed the point by a mile. 

Let me know what was your opinion after comparing the Harry Potter films with the books. 

films are currently streaming in the US on HBO Max.