Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire - Ending Explained

The film's mystery rests on the identity of the person who put Harry's name in the Goblet. In a major twist, it is revealed that Mad-Eye Moody is actually Barty Crouch Jr., who has been using Polyjuice Potion all year. He didn't just want Harry to win; he needed Harry to touch the Triwizard Cup because it was a Portkey designed to transport him to Lord Voldemort. The ending reveals that the entire tournament was a complex ritual to facilitate Voldemort's rebirth using 'blood of the enemy' (Harry). The most tragic reveal is that Cedric Diggory's death was entirely incidental—he was merely a 'spare' killed because he was in the way of a plan that only ever targeted Harry.

Critics and fans have often debated the 'Anger of Dumbledore' in this film. While some see Michael Gambon's more aggressive portrayal (famously yelling "Did you put your name in the Goblet of Fire?!") as a directorial misstep, others interpret it as a deliberate choice to show Dumbledore's growing fallibility and panic as he realizes he can no longer protect Harry. Another interpretation suggests the entire Triwizard Tournament is a satire of institutional bureaucracy, where the adults are so obsessed with 'binding contracts' and 'international cooperation' that they become blind to the obvious kidnapping and murder plot unfolding under their noses.