Harry Potter: 10 Movie Scenes That Are Completely Different In The Books

8. Neville's Speech (The Deathly Hallows)

Goblet Of Fire Angry Dumbledore
Warner Bros.

In The Book: Neville tries to attack Voldemort and gets himself disarmed. Voldemort tries to recruit Neville, whose only words are 'I'll join you when hell freezes over. Dumbledore's army!'

In The Film: Neville gives a Hollywood speech about friends and death and hope and all those other things, over Harry's dead body.

Summary: An easy win for the books here. It's a fantasy film trope, having the cowardly character stand up to the villain at the end, but Neville's 'it doesn't matter that Harry's dead' speech is not a speech any real life human being would ever give. Not only that, Voldemort would never have allowed it to happen, and it only serves to break up the action (again).

J.K. Rowling gives Neville all the same bravery, but uses the moment to add to the battle, rather than distract from it.

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Contributor

Writer, serial binge-watcher, Mother of Dragons. Completed Netflix.