The Ron Weasley in the books versus the Ron Weasley in the movies is quite different in many ways. While there are many similarities between both versions of the Harry Potter character, fans have noted that many things about Ron’s personality were changed for the movies. While, of course, some moments and scenes can’t be translated from book to screen or need to be cut out for time, many feel that Ron’s characterization was changed too much. They feel he didn’t really completely get his due compared to Harry and Hermione because of these changes.
Here are ten things about Ron Weasley that the movies deliberately changed.
IN THE MOVIES, HE COULD ALMOST NOT EVEN BE A CHARACTER
One of the saddest things about all the changes made to Ron as a character is how it makes him almost pointless in the plot. So many of Ron’s big moments and his importance as a member of the trio don’t translate onto the screen. It often feels like Ron doesn’t even need to be there as so many of the important things that happen are based around Harry or Hermione. Ron often gets less important screen time, so he can come off more as a side character.
THE IMPORTANCE OF RON AS HARRY’S BEST FRIEND
While Ron is portrayed in the movies as Harry's best friend, the importance of this isn't really touched on. Ron and Harry are very close in the books, and their friendship is essential to Harry.
They hang out together and have similar hobbies. Hermione is also a best friend, but they have a different bond. In the movies, it comes off like Hermione is much closer to Harry than Ron.
THE IMPORTANCE OF HIS FAMILY
Because the movies don’t have as much time to tell a story, they can’t go into as much detail. So, while Ron’s family is around in the movies, the importance they have to Ron as a character isn’t as focused on. Ron’s family is the cause of many of his deepest insecurities while also being extremely important to him. This aspect of his character isn’t really explored that much in the movies likely because of time reasons.
HE PROVIDES A GROUNDING PRESENCE IN THE BOOKS
In the books, it’s clear that Hermione and Ron both play vital roles in Harry’s life. Harry needs them both, and they both have individual ways in which they said Harry in his journey as the Chosen One.
Ron often provides somewhat of a grounding and calming presence when Harry is more dramatic or Hermione is more emotional. He sometimes provides common sense, and this isn’t shown in the books. One example is when he helps Hermione remember to do magic when the Devil’s Snare has them.
HIS KNOWLEDGE OF WIZARDING CULTURE ISN’T AS IMPORTANT IN THE MOVIES
One of the other important ways that Ron functions as an important member of the trio is how he is the voice of knowledge about the wizarding world. In Harry Potter, there are a lot of cultural things that Harry and Hermione don’t understand as they were raised by Muggles. Ron is able to provide this insight and knowledge since he was raised in the wizarding community. This knowledge is actually quite important to Harry many times.
RON DOESN’T DEFEND HIS FRIENDS AS OFTEN IN THE MOVIES
In the books, Ron is overall a very loyal and caring friend. While he has his moments of insecurity, it’s clear that he does care deeply about his friends. They didn’t showcase this near as often in the movies.
For example, at the end of Prisoner of Azkaban, Ron is willing to die to save Harry and Hermione while in the films he cowers in the corner while Hermione defends Harry.
USING HIM MOSTLY FOR COMIC RELIEF
In the books, Ron is also quite a funny character. He makes a lot of jokes and is clearly a character with a good sense of humor. But, in the movies, instead of making him humorous, they tend to make them more the butt of the joke.
He’s often used more as comic relief not because he’s funny but because he comes across goofier. This is a shame because it really takes away from who Ron is. His sense of humor is an important part of his character, but he shouldn’t be of the joke.
MAKING HIM SEEM A LOT LESS COMPETENT AND SMART
Ron might not be the smartest of the trio as far as grades go, but then again it’s also hard to compete with Hermione when she’s so smart. But, Ron isn’t an incompetent person. He’s probably mostly average overall as a wizard, but he isn’t below average by any means. In many classes, he and Harry do equally as well at magic. But, in the movies, it comes across like Harry is extremely gifted at all kinds of magic while Ron is kind of subpar. This really makes it seem like he’s more useful and incompetent than he really is.
GIVING SOME OF HIS BEST MOMENTS TO HERMIONE
One thing that many fans are frustrated about in the movies is that Ron doesn’t really get a chance to shine. In the books, both Hermione and Ron have moments where they are the heroes as well as times when they are more flawed. But, in the movies, Hermione is often made out to be this perfect heroine while Iron is a bit of a dunce. This means that some of Ron’s best moments and lines are given to Hermione at Ron’s expense. This is a shame because overall it makes them both less interesting as characters.
NOT GIVING HIM FRECKLES
This is a more minor change because it only has to deal with physical appearance, but it is one of the most obvious changes to spot. In the books, it’s talked about many times that the Weasleys are all red-heads with freckles. In the movies, however, Ron has red hair but not the freckles. This isn’t a big deal, but it does seem like something that could have been added. However, it probably wasn’t worth the effort of the continuity it would take to keep the freckles the same.