The saying “never meet your heroes” has never applied to me more than when it comes to Harry Potter. As a kid, I floated along the series’ whimsy and matured alongside Harry, year by year. As an adult, I came to understand that J.K. Rowling’s worldviews clashed with the expectations I had formed from her early writing.
Harry experiences a similar realization with Voldemort. Voldemort was once perceived as an enigmatic figure whose life seemed permanently intertwined with Harry, and whose return appeared inevitable from the moment he was mentioned in The Sorcerer’s Stone. By the end of The Deathly Hallows, he has been reduced to a pathetic corpse, his fearsome reputation erased now that Harry understands everything about him. Although this theme is evident in the books, the Goblet of Fire movie makes the point clearer than even Rowling does in the text.
Harry Potter’s fourth year at Hogwarts is upended when he’s mysteriously entered into the dangerous Triwizard Tournament, forcing him to face deadly challenges he never signed up for. There are several changes between the book and the film, such as the movie skipping the first hundred pages, where the Weasleys pick Harry up from the Dursleys. There is also the often-memed moment with Dumbledore, who is meant to calmly ask whether Harry put his name in the Goblet, but instead barrels toward him and demands an answer with unexpected aggression.
And then there’s all the teen angst that the film leans into, which wasn’t as emphasized in the books, complete with shaggy, unkempt haircuts for all the teenage cast members. The mystery behind Harry’s entry leads to Voldemort’s long-awaited return, setting the stage for the dark turn the series takes from here. Not only does this moment mark a turning point, but it also serves as the official introduction of the series’ antagonist in his full reincarnation.
In chapter 33, “The Death Eaters,” after Voldemort’s follower Wormtail kills fellow Triwizard competitor Cedric Diggory, the Dark Lord is resurrected in the flesh. As the other Death Eaters arrive to greet him, he chastises them and details the elaborate steps he took to return. He explains how he manipulated the tournament so that Harry would claim the trophy, which would transport him to Voldemort and allow his blood to be used in the ritual. Now that he is back, Voldemort says he could kill Harry immediately, blame it on the tournament, and escape with the rest of the world none the wiser. The explanation is lengthy and relies heavily on the classic villain monologue, revealing the plan before it is fully executed. This slows the sense of urgency and exposes Voldemort’s vanity — his most human trait next to fear — too early, at a moment when his presence should feel all-encompassing.
The movie scene, by contrast, begins like a horror film. Harry immediately senses Voldemort’s presence, and before he can warn Cedric, the Dark Lord orders his murder, and the Hufflepuff hero is dead in an instant. We see a baby dropped in, which transforms into a pale man in black robes with slits for eyes. His arrival feels supernatural and inevitable rather than the result of a cunning scheme. He summons his Death Eaters and moves among them like a mob boss, removing their masks and commanding attention. He touches Cedric’s lifeless face briefly with his clawed toes, then gives a concise account of how he was thwarted thirteen years earlier, losing his powers and nearly his life.
Voldemort does not dwell on all the behind-the-scenes manipulations that brought him to this moment. He revels in the pleasure of being able to harm Harry at a touch before forcing him into a wizarding duel. In the book, this scene does not occur until the next chapter, 13 pages later, whereas in the film it unfolds within minutes. The result is that Voldemort’s evil allure remains intact, cementing his reputation as the most malevolent force in the wizarding world.
Moments later, when he’s back at Hogwarts, Harry tells a fake Professor Moody that being in Voldemort’s presence was like “falling into one of my dreams — into one of my nightmares,” and audiences should walk away from the moment feeling the same way. Although some argue that Voldemort should not be portrayed as supernatural, since he is ultimately just a man — a key point in Rowling’s characterization — that perspective should be earned rather than assumed.
At this stage in the story, Voldemort should feel as supernatural as possible within the wizarding world, especially from young Harry’s perspective. He is an intrinsically malevolent presence that Harry cannot yet comprehend. It is only from this point onward, as Harry gains a deeper understanding of Voldemort, that we are meant to see him as nothing more than a frightened, tragic human.
“Never meet your heroes” might be true, but villains often live up to — and even exceed — our darkest expectations. Fear and reputation amplify their presence, and it’s hard not to be overwhelmed when facing them. Like Harry, peeling back the layers reveals the facade beneath. The film nails Voldemort’s first full appearance, making it truly terrifying, while the books excel at showing that, in the end, he is just a deeply flawed individual.