Why Harry Potter Movies Quietly Erased Hogwarts’ Most Overlooked Class

For a story centered on a school for young wizards, the Harry Potter movies trimmed away a surprising number of academic details. Among the most glaring omissions is Astronomy—a subject that, in the books, is woven into late-night classes, stargazing sessions, and even a pivotal exam. On screen, though, it’s reduced to a scenic tower shot, and the class itself is nowhere to be found. Most viewers don’t even realize Harry ever took it.

Hogwarts Subjects That Faded From the Films

Once you notice Astronomy’s absence, it’s hard to ignore how many other classes quietly disappeared in the transition from page to screen. Ancient Runes, for example, is a major part of Hermione’s studies in the books, but the movies never mention it or its professor. Arithmancy, another of Hermione’s toughest subjects, is also left out entirely.

Muggle Studies, which is supposed to help young witches and wizards understand the non-magical world, is never shown or even referenced in the films. Even Divination, a class that’s iconic in the books, is pared down to a handful of quirky moments with Professor Trelawney, skipping over the broader curriculum and exams that fill the novels.

Streamlining Hogwarts for the Big Screen

It’s understandable that a two-hour movie can’t capture every detail of a seven-year magical education. The films focus on classes that drive the main story—like Defense Against the Dark Arts or Potions—while trimming away subjects that don’t directly impact Harry’s journey. Still, the loss of these classes makes Hogwarts feel less like a real school and more like a backdrop for adventure.

Professor Sinistra, who teaches Astronomy in the books, is barely more than a cameo in the movies. No lessons are shown, and the subject adds nothing to the on-screen Hogwarts experience. This streamlining is one of the clearest examples of how the films simplified the academic side of wizard life, and J.K. Rowling never publicly objected to these changes.

Why Hogwarts Feels Different in the Movies

Part of the reason Hogwarts comes across so differently on screen is that the movies prioritize action and plot over the daily grind of school life. The books spend plenty of time on homework, exams, and the ups and downs of student life, but the films keep things moving by focusing on major events. As a result, the school feels more like a magical setting than a fully functioning academic institution.

Most classroom scenes that do make it into the movies are tied to big plot points—like learning the Patronus or brewing Polyjuice Potion. Everyday lessons, study sessions, and the pressure of schoolwork rarely appear, even though they’re a huge part of the books. With so many subjects missing, the on-screen version of Hogwarts loses some of the depth and realism that made it feel alive in the novels.

Looking Ahead to the New Series

With a new long-form Harry Potter series on the horizon, there’s finally a chance to bring these overlooked classes and professors into the spotlight. The expanded format could give Hogwarts the rich academic life that the movies never had time to explore. Fans are eager to see if the new adaptation will finally do justice to the full curriculum of the wizarding world.

All Harry Potter movies are available to stream on Peacock.